HYDERABAD: Telangana Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Seethakka took part in the two-day Chintan Shivir in Dehradun where they highlighted the state’s extensive welfare and development programmes, particularly for Backward Classes (BCs) and youth.
Addressing the national conference, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated that the Telangana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is committed to delivering inclusive growth and social justice. He credited Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra for laying the groundwork for the fight against social inequity in India.
Transparent Caste Survey and BC Reservation Bill
As part of this commitment, he said, Telangana conducted a caste-based survey with full transparency, overseen by the Planning Department and BC Commission. “The survey revealed that BC communities form 56% of the state’s population,” Prabhakar noted.
Based on these findings, the Congress government introduced and passed a bill granting 42% reservations for BCs across education, employment, and political representation. The bill was approved by both the Assembly and the Legislative Council, and a request has been made to the Centre to implement a similar policy nationally.
Focus on Youth Empowerment
Ponnam Prabhakar also outlined several youth-centric initiatives. These include the establishment of Young India Integrated Residential Schools, Young India Sports University, and Young India Skill University, aimed at strengthening educational and employment opportunities for the younger generation.
Highlighting job creation, he announced that the Congress government had already filled 69,000 government posts within a year of taking office. Additionally, the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme has been launched to provide financial support ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹4 lakh to youth across the state. With a target of four lakh beneficiaries, the scheme involves a substantial outlay of ₹6,000 crore.
