OCs demand 19% reservations in edn & jobs

Hanamkonda: The leaders of Telangana Brahmana Seva Samithi and OC JAC have demanded the State government extend 19 per cent reservations in education and employment to ‘Other Castes’ (OCs) in the State.

Under the aegis of Telugu States OC Welfare Associations JAC, a massive ‘OC Mahagarjana’ was held at Kakatiya Degree College Grounds in Hanamkonda on Sunday night. The leaders wanted the government to look into the welfare of the poorer sections in the OCs.

Those addressed the gathering complained that the OC leaders have neglected the welfare of the community members though they were at the helm in political sphere for the past seven decades. Adding to this, the State government with its recent decision of offering reservations different sects has stirred up a hornet's nest.

This would lead to further distress among the students belonging to OCs as they could be deprived of jobs and seats in educational institutions despite having merit, the leaders noted.

Three resolutions were passed during the meeting. In the first resolution, it was said that it is the duty of suppressed classes, now enjoying reservations, to do justice to the OCs. In second one, they sought a bill passed in the State assembly offering 19 per cent reservations to the OCs.

In the third one, wanted the government to conduct a survey to find out which communities among Brahmans, Reddy, Velama, Arya Vysya and Marwadi were financially lagging behind in comparison with other castes.

The Samithi president G Upendra Sharma, leaders GVS Srinivasa Charya, Valluru Pavan Kumar, Inavolu Satyamohan, OC JAC leaders G Jaipal Reddy, P Ganapathi Reddy, N Bhaskar Reddy, M Venkateshwarlu, M Papa Rao, N Seshacharyulu, J Rajeshwar Rao and others were present. Nearly 30,000 members of the community attended the meeting.