Ministers Uttam, Tummala addresses massive public meeting at Tungathurthi
Suryapet : Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed the Congress government’s commitment to social justice, promising to implement Scheduled Castes (SC) categorisation and introduce 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs). He stated that the state government had received several demands to increase the reservation percentage for SCs and assured that the quota would be enhanced based on the findings of the next Census, which is likely to be held in 2026.
He was addressing a massive public meeting, ‘Chalo Tungaturthi,’ at Tirumalagiri in Suryapet district on Sunday. The event was held to congratulate the Congress government for its decision to implement SC categorisation and introduce a Bill in the Assembly to provide 42% reservation for BCs in Telangana, based on the findings of the recently completed caste-based socio-economic survey.
The public meeting was also addressed by District Incharge Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao, former Minister R Damodar Reddy, Suryapet DCC President Cheviti Venkanna Yadav, Tungaturthi MLA Mandula Samuel, MLAs Vemula Veeresham and Lakshmikanth, MLC Shankar Naik, and MPs Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Raghuveera Reddy.
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Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that three key Bills would be introduced during the ongoing budget session of the Telangana Assembly. The first Bill seeks to implement 42% BC reservations in education and employment, while the second Bill proposes extending the same quota for BCs in local bodies. The third Bill focuses on SC sub-categorisation, ensuring sub-quotas for 59 SC sub-castes within the existing 15% SC reservation.
He further stated that the government would discuss the SC Sub-Categorisation Bill on March 17 and deliberate on BC reservations and the caste survey findings on March 18. Reiterating the long-standing commitment of the Congress Party to SC categorisation, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the party had always advocated for this reform since the time of undivided Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted that under his leadership, a sub-committee was constituted to study the issue, and a one-man judicial commission, led by Justice Shameem Akhtar, was formed to recommend the implementation of SC categorisation.
“The Congress government, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, and all our ministers, is implementing SC categorisation without deviating from the judicial commission’s report. This very session, we are taking concrete steps to turn it into a reality,” he asserted. He also revealed that the government had made representations for increasing SC reservations and assured that this demand would be addressed in accordance with the findings of the 2026 Census.
The minister lauded the Congress government for conducting Telangana’s first comprehensive caste-based socio-economic survey since 1931. He said that the survey was carried out transparently, covering all communities and ensuring accuracy through the participation of over 1.03 lakh government employees. Additionally, 76,000 data entry operators were deployed to process the findings, making the Rs 160 crore survey a landmark initiative.
“Unlike the false propaganda spread by certain groups, this survey was conducted in a meticulous and scientific manner. It is a major milestone in achieving social justice,” he said, urging people not to fall for misinformation. Uttam Kumar Reddy credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for ensuring the implementation of SC categorisation and the caste survey, reaffirming that the party remains committed to uplifting marginalised communities.
As a native of Tungaturthi, Uttam Kumar Reddy assured the public that the region would be developed into a model constituency. He announced that the government would take up pending irrigation projects in Suryapet district, including the modernisation and completion of canals. He assured the people that Tungaturthi would receive water from SRSP Stage-2 and the Devadula project, irrigating thousands of acres of agricultural land. Additionally, he pledged to take measures to bring Godavari and Musi River waters to Tungaturthi. He also assured that all eligible beneficiaries would receive ration cards and that the government would provide fine-quality rice to all ration card holders.
