The Assembly on Thursday passed the Bills for 5% reservation each for the Kapus (Kapus, Telaga, Ontari and Balija sub-castes) and other Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the general category on Thursday consequent to the 103rd amendment to the Constitution.
The Bills are the A.P. Economically Weaker Sections of Citizens (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Public Services under the State for Kapus) Bill, 2019 and the A.P. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) other than Kapus (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in Public Services under the State) Bill, 2019.
The Assembly also passed the A.P. Backward Classes Sub-Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Bill, 2019 (BC Sub-Plan) after a brief debate on its modalities.
Minister for BC Welfare and Empowerment K. Atchan Naidu moved the Bills.
The Bills for 10% reservation were passed after the TDP MLAs thanked Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for taking what they called a bold decision to provide the quota for the Kapus against the injustice meted out to the community by various parties.
There were no requests for any changes in the draft Bill.
The BC Sub-Plan was, however, passed after a discussion between Mr. Atchan Naidu and TDP MLAs Kuna Ravi Kumar (whip), Gollapalli Surya Rao and others, who insisted that the Minister should lend clarity on the basis of allocation of funds and its quantum.
At one stage, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao suggested that the Bill be deferred to Friday due to the ambiguity raised by some MLAs but it was eventually cleared after Mr. Atchan Naidu and Mr. Ravi Kumar had a quick word with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in his chambers.
