THE Khammam district committee of the CPI(M) has undertaken a bus jatha campaign demanding the enactment of a law for providing reservations in private sector for SC,  ST and OBCs. The jatha began from Bhadrachalam on May 19, marking the 30th death anniversary of P Sundaraiah. The jatha toured 1600 kilometres in the district in the 19 days of campaign.

The jatha aimed at bringing awareness among the people and educate them on the problems arising due to non-implementation of reservations in the private sector. P Sudarshan, CPI(M) district secretary led the jatha which was inaugurated by Professor Kancha Ilaiah. He emphasised the need for unity of the Left and other democratic forces to prevent the menace of Hindutva forces, in the larger interest of SC, ST and other toiling masses.

On this occasion, T Veerabhadram, Telangana state secretary of CPI(M) said that the 21st Congress of the Party has passed a resolution unanimously for reservations in private sector. He explained that reservations in private sector are needed as the employment opportunities are dwindling in the public sector.

PREPARATIONS

FOR THE JATHA

The Telangana state Party had organised a two-day class for the district level cadre at Hyderabad on May 5-6, to gear-up the Party machinery for the jatha. Later district and mandal level classes were held for the Party cadre and members.

A good number of round table conferences, conventions were organised in towns and cities to take our views to the public on this demand. At these gatherings, various social organisations, Left and democratic forces participated, gave valid suggestions and offered support to this campaign.

A convention was held in Osmania University Campus in which students and teaching staff participated and extended support to this demand.

On  June 7-8, protests were held across the state, in front of the collectorates, demanding reservation in private sector.

Nalgonda and Khammam zilla parishad general bodies have unanimously passed resolutions emphasising the need for reservations in jobs for SC, ST and OBCs in private sector.

During the bus jatha campaign in Khammam district, Mulkalapalli, Madhira, Siripuram Yerrupalem, Dummugudem and Bonakal mandal parishad general bodies have passed resolutions in support of this demand and forwarded them to the state government. In the course of the bus jatha campaign, 400 village level committees were constituted with qualified unemployed youth, who had expressed their support for the demand. During the bus jatha campaign, around 100 public meetings were held in which 18,000 people were involved.

At Gangaram village, an SC graduate narrated his experiences of how, despite being equally qualified, he was rejected a job and an upper caste candidate was selected by a pharma company.

As a culmination of the 19-day bus jatha, a rally and public meeting was organised at district headquarters, Khammam. The meeting was presided over by S Rajaiah, MLA. T Gopal Rao, IAS, T Veerabhadram,  P Sudarshan, M Venkateswarlu, K Ilaiah Party state committee members addressed the meeting. G Dharma, D Krishna, B Malsoor, N Manohar, district committee members and D Venkanna, president, state Rajaka Sangam, and others participated.