‘Remove 50% cap on reservations to ensure equal opportunities'
On May Day, members of the Ambedkar Porata Samithi, urged the Union government to remove the 50 percent cap on reservations, citing only then would the real benefits of reservations reach the downtrodden sections of society.
They emphasised that Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and other disadvantaged groups together constitute over 80 percent of the population. Therefore, reservation policies should align with their actual demographic strength to ensure equitable representation and opportunity.
Ambedkar Porata Samithi President Soru Sambayya on Thursday, along with members of the Samithi, garlanded statue of Bharat Ratna, B.R. Ambedkar in Bobbili, Vizianagaram.
Mr. Soru stressed the importance of conducting the caste census in a time-bound manner so that the population of each community would be known officially to the government.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Good governance of PM Modi will be written in golden letters, says Nadda
Union Minister and BJP chief J.P. Nadda addressed a press conference on Monday (June 9, 2025) on the completion of one year of the third term of PM Modi-led government in New Delhi. Mr. Nadda said 'Work done by PM Modi-led govt for good governance, welfare of poor will be written in golden letters.' The Union Minister added that 'PM Modi changed political culture in country, he made govt responsive, accountable.' Addressing a press conference on the completion of 11 years of the Modi Government at BJP HQ in New Delhi. — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 9, 2025 Mr. Nadda cited Article 370 repeal, abolition of triple talaq, Waqf amendment, demonetisation, women quota bill among bold decisions of the BJP govfernment. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Monday (June 9, 2025) that under the 11 years of his government India has not just become the fastest-growing major economy but is also a key global voice on pressing issues like climate action and digital innovation. A clear focus on good governance and transformation, Mr. Modi said of the last 11 years as his government finished the first year of its third term on Monday (June 9, 2025). A link shared by him noted that 60% of the current Union Ministers are from the SC, ST and OBC categories, a message aimed at burnishing social justice credentials of his government amid attempts by opposition parties like the Congress to paint it as working against their interests. A clear focus on good governance and transformation! Powered by the blessings and collective participation of 140 crore Indians, India has witnessed rapid transformations across diverse sectors. Guided by the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2025 India's Vikas Yatra, showcased through interesting videos, infographics, articles and more on the NaMo App... Do explore. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2025 Mr. Modi had said, 'We are proud of our collective success but at the same time, we look ahead with hope, confidence and a renewed resolve to build a Viksit Bharat.' He used the hashtag of '11 year of seva' (11 years of service) with the post, while sharing links to the details of changes effected in different sectors. It said Mr. Modi has brought the politics of development, 'Vikasvaad' into the mainstream, making it the focal point around which political discourse and policy action now revolves. Since assuming office in 2014, 'India First' has guided his every policy and action, it added. It noted that over 81 crore people are getting free food grains, over 15 crore households have got tap water connections, over four crore houses built for the poor, 12 crore toilets were built, 68 lakh street vendors got loans, 52.5 crores loans given to small entrepreneurs, and 20 crores women were given cash assistance during Covid under different schemes.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu looks back at his "most difficult" year, gives a peek into his Amaravati plan
N. Chandrababu Naidu , in an interview to ToI, said he considers his first year as Chief Minister during this fourth term as the most difficult yet. In the conversation with ToI's Robin David and Srikanth Aluri, he highlighted ongoing struggles against what he describes as "economic terrorists." Naidu believes these challenges stem from the previous YSRCP government's alleged mismanagement, which he claims has resulted in significant financial losses for the state. During the interview, Naidu detailed the financial burdens inherited from the last five years of governance. He pointed out the staggering Rs 9,000 crore loss from cancelled power purchase agreements, alongside Rs 55,000 crore wasted in the Polavaram project and further losses in Amaravati . In his view, rebuilding from such setbacks is no small feat. "Not minus 10, it was like minus 100 when I took over," he said, emphasising the scale of the economic challenges. Despite this, Naidu insists that growth is achievable through careful planning and technology. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Naidu is optimistic about achieving a 15% growth rate over the next 25 years. He believes this can be realised by integrating advanced technology into various sectors, including education and agriculture. "Everything is possible with vision, planning and foolproof execution," he stated, asserting that real-time data could significantly enhance productivity. The aim is to attract investments in defence and aerospace technologies, projecting that these sectors can create numerous job opportunities and boost exports, Naidu said. Live Events Regarding the capital's legal status, Naidu has reached out to the Union government to amend the AP Reorganisation Act to officially designate Amaravati as the state capital. He believes establishing legal sanctity is essential, but he remains committed to combating what he refers to as "evil elements" undermining the state's development. Naidu also expressed concerns about Andhra Pradesh 's representation in Parliament following the delimitation process. He noted that population shifts have affected the state's political standing, urging for a national population management strategy to ensure fair representation. Reflecting on the state's investment strategies, Naidu welcomed the growing competition among Chief Ministers to attract investments, stating, "As long as your brand is strong, people will be with you." He sees this as a positive development for the country. Naidu is keen on collaborating with the Gates Foundation to implement preventive healthcare solutions using artificial intelligence. He said he envisions Amaravati as a model for holistic healthcare, starting with a pilot project in Kuppam before expanding across the state. Naidu's ambitious plans include establishing a Quantum Valley in Amaravati, similar to Silicon Valley in the USA. He emphasised the importance of commercialising technology, especially in defence and aerospace, to stimulate job creation and economic growth. While Naidu acknowledged the need for improved social infrastructure in Amaravati, he assured that efforts are underway to develop the necessary facilities. The aim is to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits the entire region, not just Amaravati, he said.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
SC rejects urgent hearing in Tamil Nadu's plea against Centre over edu funds
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea by the Tamil Nadu government seeking an urgent hearing in its suit against the Union government for allegedly withholding over ₹2,000 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS). The Tamil Nadu government had described the Centre's move as 'coercive tactics' to force the state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 'For how long has this fund not been given? What is the urgency now?' a bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan asked senior advocate P Wilson, who mentioned the matter on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, seeking an expedited listing. As Wilson flagged the constitutional right to free and compulsory education of nearly 48 lakh students in the state being adversely impacted due to the withholding of the fund, the bench remained unconvinced and declined the request, saying: 'The plea is rejected.' The brief exchange took place during the Supreme Court's ongoing summer recess, now designated as a period of 'partial court working days' where only two to three benches sit and only matters of pressing urgency are usually considered, in addition to some old cases where both sides have given their consent to argue during the break. The regular functioning of the top court will resume on July 14. Filed under Article 131 of the Constitution, Tamil Nadu's suit accuses the Centre of linking its annual share under the SSS to the implementation of the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme -- a condition the state calls 'unconstitutional, arbitrary and coercive.' According to the suit, the Project Approval Board had approved a total outlay of ₹3,585.99 crore for Tamil Nadu under SSS for the financial year 2024–25, of which ₹2,151.59 crore was to be the Centre's 60% share. The state claims this amount was not released solely because of its principled opposition to NEP 2020. Tamil Nadu, ruled by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has been a vocal critic of the NEP, particularly its three-language formula, which the state believes undermines its two-language policy rooted in Tamil linguistic pride and regional identity. 'The Union Government seeks to coerce the State to implement the NEP-2020 throughout the State in its entirety and to deviate from the education regime followed in the State,' the suit submitted, while asserting that SSS is a standalone scheme that should not be tied to compliance with any other policy. The suit further alleged that the withholding of funds 'cripples the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009,' directly impacting 43.9 lakh students, 2.2 lakh teachers, and over 32,000 school staff in the state. The state's legal team has argued that the Centre's move violates the spirit of cooperative federalism and amounts to an 'usurpation' of the state's constitutional powers to legislate on education, which falls under Entry 25 of the Concurrent List. Tamil Nadu has also urged the Supreme Court to declare that the implementation of NEP and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme, which mandates full compliance with NEP, is not binding on the state. It has sought a direction to the Centre to immediately release ₹2,291 crore (including interest), claiming the delay is 'not only illegal but also violative of constitutional morality.' While the plea for an urgent hearing has now been declined, the main suit continues to be listed for regular hearing. The standoff comes amid a broader constitutional tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government. On April 8, the Supreme Court struck down Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi's controversial move to reserve 10 re-enacted state bills for presidential assent, and the matter is now part of a presidential reference pending before the top court.
