Kadapa District Revenue Officer P.H. Hemasagar described Jyotirao Phule as a social reformer who had promoted the education of women and exhorted people to follow the path shown by him.
Addressing a meeting of the Backward Classes in the BC study circle here after garlanding the Phule statue at Kadapa old bus stand on his vardhanti on Wednesday, he said the government was according priority to the development of weaker and downtrodden sections. The government set up hostels and residential schools and encouraging them to study by granting scholarships and fee reimbursement, Mr. Hemasagar said. BC students are being given coaching for competitive exams, APPSC Group II, bank officers and excise constable recruitment, etc.
BCs should forge ahead with unity, get educated and establish good relations with SCs, STs and minorities to achieve their goals, A.P. BC Mahasabha State Convenor A. Mallikarjuna said. Kabeer Puraskar awardee K. Rajaratnam Isaac said Phule had strived for the upliftment of BCs. TDP city president K. Balakrishna Yadav suggested that only BCs should be invited for Phule Jayanti and vardhanti programmes.
Mahasabha Anantapur district convenor P.V. Ramana and G.V. Ramana wanted the first woman teacher Savithri Bai Phule’s portrait put up in BC girls hostels. Dalit Praja Party President S. Manohar said Phule had been instrumental in countering social evils. BC Corporation Executive Director Srinivasulu, AD of Disabled Welfare, Bhaskar Reddy, AD of Horticulture, Dasaratharami Reddy, BC Study Circle Director Sammaiah Goud, District Social Welfare Officer Saraswati and ED of Minority Corporation, Srinivasa Rao participated. Phule was a national leader, who encouraged widow marriages, CPI(M) city secretary N. Ravisankar Reddy said.
