By Shiva Shankar
Telangana government on Tuesday decided to constitute Backward Classes Commission to look into reservation pattern for the backward communities in the state.
The state cabinet is likely to approve the proposal of setting up BC Commission on September 26.
Chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday convened a review meeting on BC welfare and decided to constitute BC Commission that will study issues related social and economic status of people belong to backward classes and advice the government accordingly. The chief minister said he would call a cabinet meeting on next Monday to discuss BC Commission among other issues.
“There was threadbare discussion in the review meeting on steps to be taken for BC welfare in the state. And the chief minister decided to constitute the BC Commission,” said a senior official.
The government’s move to constitute BC Commission is seen as politically significant in view the ruling TRS party’s poll promise to provide 12 per cent reservation in education and jobs to backward Muslim communities. Last month, a commission headed by retired IAS officer G Sudhir submitted its report on backward Muslims to the state government following which the chief minister said his government would consider providing reservation to Muslims in proportion to their population.
Muslims in Telangana account for 12.5 per cent of over 3.5 crore population of the state. At present they are entitled to 4 per cent reservation and the state government has to find its way through legal hurdles as a case related to Muslim reservation is pending before the Supreme Court.
Undivided Andhra Pradesh government, when YS Rajashekhar Reddy was chief minister, enhanced Muslim reservation to 5 per cent which the Supreme Court struck down, and the apex court is now hearing a review petition.
While Sudhir Commission was an enquiry commission, the BC Commission to be constituted will be statutory body whose recommendation will have more validity. The commission will advise steps to be taken as government is proposing more welfare schemes for BC communities such as setting up of one residential school each in 119 assembly constituencies on the lines of Gurukul Schools for SC and ST students, and developing BC study circles into academies.
Source: Times of India