To,Hon'ble Chief Minister
Andhra Pradesh
It is submitted that KAPUs under a broad division of Balija, Ontari, Telaga, Turpukapu, MunnuruKapu, Gajulabalija, Settibalija, Gandhavaram Balija in Rayalaseema Region and twenty more sub-divisions were recognized as backward Communities since 1915. These communities have been analyzed as Backward by Montagu-Chelms Ford Committee 1919 and the report of the committee has been implemented in 1921. The last caste census enumerated under British Raj in 1931 also enlisted Kapu and other twenty sub-castes as backward communities. The issue was discussed at London in 1932 Round Table conference by the then representatives Dr. B.R.Ambedkar and Sri. Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu a Kapu by caste. The Round Table Conferences (1930-32) agreed the proposal of Sri. Kurma Naidu under the recommendations of Syman Commission of 1927. Under the Steward leadership of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar the Govt. of India Act, 1935 has also recognized Kapus as Backward. The Kapus were continued as Backward in undivided Madras State till October 01st, 1953. Then there were two separate lists continued, one was from undivided Madras State and the other one is from State of Hyderabad. Hence two separate lists have been continued till November 01st, 1956 where the Kapus were as B.Cs, on which date the Andhra Pradesh State has been formed. The two separate lists constituted Kapus as Backward Communities were in force till 1956. They were removed from the B.C.List without any Committee/ Commission’s recommendations by Sri. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Again they have been recognized as Backward Communities under G.O MS.No. 3250 dated 14-10-1961 issued by Education (Social Welfare) Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. The G.O.Ms.No.3250 has been under prosecution for five years i.e. from 1961 to 1966, the G.O. was issued by Sri. Damodaram Sanjeevayya the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after a careful study of Kapu’s plight. Again these communities have been recognized as socially and educationally backward under G.O Ms.No.18, 19, dated 06-07-1994 and 25-08-1994, given to provide concessions as B.Cs. The G.O.Ms.No. 30, issued by the then Chief Minister of A.P. Sri. K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy under Article 162 of Constitution of India where the Executive can also provide B.Cs status to certain communities. The G.O. Ms.No.30 was struck down by a majority judgment 2-1. The Hon’ble High court Judgment was not challenged in the Apex Court as it was done in Muslims Reservation Issue in Andhra Pradesh. Under these G.Os the above said communities have been given Economic and Educational benefits on par with other B.C. Communities in Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Kaka Kalikar Committee, the first all India Backward Communities Commission/ Committee constituted under Article 340, in 1953 has also recognized Kapus as Backward Under Andhra State Serial Number 112, 113, 114 and 116, in page Number 9, Volume - II Caste Lists. Sri Bindeswari Prasad Mandal Commission of 1979 (popularly known as Mandal Commission) has also recognized Kapus as Backward communities under serial Number AP 12, 76, 159, 241, 242, 264, Volume IV, Page Number 173, 174, 175, and 303. And also Under the Karnataka State Serial Number 158, 186, and 187 the BALIJA Caste was recognized as Backward. Under the Tamilnadu State Serial Number 241, 242, page Number 208, the Caste was recognized as Backward. Under the Orissa State Serial Number 208, page Number 201 the Gajula Caste was recognized as Backward.
Unfortunately Telaga, Balija, Ontari and Kapus etc., who are having same surnames same gotras with same social and Educational background are being treated differently in different Districts in Andhra Pradesh. As per OBC reservations are concerned, for example Turupu Kapus who are predominantly residing at Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Vishakapatnam have been denied the OBC benefit in other parts of Andhra Pradesh. When the case was examined by the State Government and Backward Classes Commission. The G.O.Ms.No.62 Backward Welfare (CC2) issued on 20-12-2008, this G.O. has facilitated TurupuKapus to get OBC certificate from other Costal Districts of Andhra Pradesh from their respective Mandal Recvenue Officers (Thasildars). This G.O. is a subsequent result ofG.O.Ms, No.1793 Education Dept dt.23-09-1970 and also G.O.Ms.No.91 Social Welfare (P) Dept. dt.15-03-1991, the chair person, A.P. Commission for Backward Classes Hyderabad D.O.Lr.No.C1/*195/2006. Dt. 05-11-2008.
It is also notable that Telaga, Balija, Ontari, Turupukapu, Munnur Kapu, Settibalija, Gajulabalija were recognized as B.C's in the neighboring States, Tamilnadu and Karnataka, Maharastra Whereas the same benefit has not been extended to these communities in Andhra Pradesh.
The “Congress Manifestos” 2004, 2009 (page No. 17) of A.P PCC(I) has promised to enlist Telaga, Balija, Ontari, Turupukapu, MunnurKapu, Settibalija, Gajulabalija etc. communities in the OBC list . The Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh under EW.P.No.15487 of 1994 dt.07-04-1995 in a landmark judgment has opined that these communities can be included in the Backward Communities list under the recommendations of State Backward Commission. And also the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh has issued a direction to the State Commissioner for Social Welfare A.P. Hyderabad W.P.No.22174 of 2006 dated 05-01-2007, to workout the modalities to include these communities under OBC categories. Acontempt petition was also filed for not implementing Hon’ble High Court orders. Unfortunately the State Govt. of Andhra Pradesh has not taken any positive steps to include Kapus in B.Cs Communities list so far.
Justice Puttu Swamy Commission was appointed to probe into the matter has not been submitted any report to the State Govt. of Andhra Pradesh under the pressure of upper caste communities who have been ruling the state since independence. Justice Dalwa Subrahmanyam Commission has been in force since 2006. The commission has been asked to probe into 17 communities to include in the OBC category. The commission has so far recommended 13 out of 17 communities as OBCs, the only left over communities are Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari. When it was questioned why these four communities are so far kept over, the commission replied for want of Rs.46 Lakh Rupees for conducting /gathering samples by the Central Statistical Institute. The file has been pending with Department of Finance since 2006.
Hence it is prayed that Kapus under a broad caption, consisting of Balija, Ontari, Telaga, Turpukapu, MunnuruKapu, Gajulabalija, Settibalija, in Rayalaseema Region etc., who constitute 32% of State population are basically depending on Non conventional employment sources like Rikshapullers, Lorry Drivers, Cleaners Street venders etc., These communities do not have any caste oriented employment, living under impoverishment for centuries together. These communities have been subject to great social discrimination, depressed, oppressed, suppressed by the socially predominant communities in Andhra Pradesh. Though they constitute 1/3rd of state population, no one from this community occupied neither Chief Minister nor any other Key post in the State. We demand a separate category (as was done in the case of Muslims as ‘E’ Category) to be created as category ‘F’ and a minimum percentage of ten (10%) should exclusively be given to kapus. The gambit of reservations shall be expanded beyond 50% limit. The A.P. state which has 52% of BCs shall be provided with at least 50% reservation for B.Cs as it happened in the State of Tamilnadu-69% and in the State of Karnataka-72%. The KAPUNADU which is apolitical organization not affiliated to any political party in Andhra Pradesh. Whoever says ‘yes’ to Kapu Reservations we are going to support them in the ensuing elections. No political party has guts to say no to our long pending time tested genuine demand.
Hence we request your kind attention to this most urgent matter pertaining to 35 million people of Andhra Pradesh. We are ever grateful if you consider our plea and enlist us in OBC category for Education, Employment/Political reservations. The Kapus who were considered as vote Bank to the ruling classes in Andhra Pradesh for the past sixty years. Now Kapus have started agitating for their Legitimate Rights. This is the only community who lost their Reservation Rights in the History of pre and post Indian Independence. Lost Rights have never been regained. Goats only being sacrificed not Tigers and Lions.
Thanking You,
POVERTY KNOWS NO CASTE
Yours faithfully,
Mallela Phalguna
(Vice President - State Kapunadu)
