HYDERABAD: Ending centuries of agony, the Telangana Commission for Backward Classes has decided to change the names of the castes Dommara, Pichaguntla, Tammali, Budabukkala and Veeramushti as these names were being misused as slurs.
A meeting of the panel, chaired by its chairman G Niranjan, was held here on Monday. After a lengthy discussion, the Commission approved a detailed report with specific recommendations in the case of these castes, which are often used as slurs and abuse. The people belonging to these castes have been persistently requesting that the names of their castes be changed.
The Commission also noted that people belonging to Kummara, Rajaka, and Mera castes have sought to add synonyms to their names. The Commission will submit the report to the government in this regard.
The panel also decided to hold public hearings on requests for the re-inclusion of 26 castes that were omitted while adopting the list of backward classes for Telangana in 2014 after the formation of the state and to receive representations and objections in this regard. For this purpose, it has decided to issue a notification on May 15.
Panel to look into DNT certificates
Public hearings will be conducted on June 9 to 11. Representations and objections by post and in person will be received at the office of the Commission from May 31 to June 13. Since the Union government wants the words ‘DNT Caste’ to be mentioned in the caste certificate for applying for the ‘SEED’ scheme, it was decided to examine the matter of issuing DNT certificates and to recommend the procedures to the government.
It was also decided to obtain the necessary information to examine the representations sent by the government regarding the inclusion of certain castes in the Most Backward Classes (MBCs).
The Commission, which is collecting details of BC employees working in various government departments, will hold a meeting with the additional secretaries of the respective departments on May 19 to resolve the issue of seniority in promotions. The Commission sought a report from the Vice-Chancellor of Prof Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University on the complaint of employees that the BCs were meted out injustice in giving promotions.