Rich tributes paid to Jyotirao Phule

Vijayawada: Social reformer Jyotirao Phule was remembered on his 190th birth anniversary organised at various places in the city on Monday.
Leaders of City Congress committee paid rich tributes to Phule at a programme organised at Andhra Ratan Bhavan here. City Congress president Malladi Vishnu along with PCC spokesperson Kolanukonda Shivaji garlanded the portrait of Jyotirao Phule.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishnu described Jyothirao Phule as a revolutionary who fought for reservations in education, employment and political posts for Backward Classes. The philosophy of Phule was relevant for the country in the present century also, he said.
Meanwhile, the leaders AP Vyavasaya Karmika Sangam organised a seminar on ‘BC Sub-Plan- Prominence’ at Dasari Nagabhushan Rao Bhavan.
CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna participated as chief guest for the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramakrishna said that Jyothirao Phule strived to root out social evils such as child marriages and advocated development of women. He alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had completely failed to evolve BC sub-plan in the State on the lines of SC/ST Sub-plan for the economic uplift of Backward Classes as majority of them were below poverty line and lagging behind on all the fronts. Artisans belonging to BCs were finding it difficult to make ends meet due to lack of government support. The Chief Minister should provide latest technology tools to the artisans for getting a better deal. Single window policy should be evolved by the State government through distributing lands for BCs in industrial corridors for their economic development. Reservations should be implemented in private sector companies to provide job security for the BCs, he demanded.
CPI leader and former MLC Jelli Wilson, AP Vyavasaya Karmika Sangam president A Sekhar, Dalit Hakkula Porata Samithi organising secretary B Rayyappa and other leaders were also present.