BC Budget Injustice: A Call for Economic Development in Telangana

 T. Chiranjeevulu , IAS (Ret)

The below text is based on the speech given by T. Chiranjeevulu,  LINK

"Yesterday, they held a 'Gaddar Awards' program and spent 11 crores. They paid an anchor 60 lakhs. The BC Corporation was allocated 1367 crores. They want to turn BCs into beggars, forcing them to survive on leftover scraps. How can they spend 300 crores on a fashion show? It seems being born as a Hindu BC is considered a sin in this country.

We are discussing how justice is being served to the BCs and Bahujans in this state, which was formed with the sacrifice of 1,200 martyrs. Since we are talking about funds, let's discuss how much has come to Telangana. We organized this meeting to discuss whether any justice is being done for the BCs in this state since its formation.

Since last February, we have been protesting, stating that the budget is doing injustice to BCs and demanding justice. On February 2nd, we held a press meet at the Somajiguda Press Club regarding the necessity of a BC Supplementary Budget and the injustice faced by BCs. On February 27th, we went on a hunger strike at Indira Park. Today, we held another press meet. Even after our demonstrations and representations to the State Government, they have ignored us. They boldly presented the budget, claiming it is a 'balanced' and 'inclusive' budget that will do justice to everyone, as stated by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Let us now discuss who gets justice and how.

Specifically, I will detail the injustice done to BCs in this budget since the formation of Telangana. Two governments have ruled here since then: the BRS government and the Congress government. The Congress government has been in power for the last two years, three months, and four months.

Let's look at the BRS government first. From 2014 to 2023, the BRS government allocated 44,976 crores in the budget for BCs. However, they spent only 26,444 crores, which is just 59.24% of the allocation.

Now, looking at the Congress government: In the Kamareddy Declaration, they promised to spend 20,000 crores annually for BCs, totaling 1 lakh crore over five years. But in the last two years, they have allocated 20,605 crores and spent only 5,568 crores, which is merely 27% of the allocation.

If we look at the total budget expenditure over the last 12 years:

·       Total Allocation: 23.73 lakh crores.

·       Total Spent: 20.97 lakh crores (88.49%).

·       Total Allocation for BCs: 65,582 crores.

·       Total Spent for BCs: 32,000 crores (approx. 48%).

So, while the general budget sees 88% utilization, only 48% is spent on BCs. Why don't you spend on BCs? Because BCs don't ask? Because things run even if you don't give them? You treat BCs as voters, not humans. You want to turn them into beggars, forcing them to live on the scraps you throw. This is your mindset.

Regarding the BC Department budget, allocations are made for BC hostels, tuition fee reimbursements, and stipends. Similarly, there are BC Corporations. Before Telangana, there was only one BC Corporation. After Telangana, to show off that they were doing great things for specific castes, they created 21 corporations. During the BRS government, there were 12; after Congress came, they added 9 more, making it 21.

Let's look at the story of these corporations:

·       BC Corporation: BRS allocated 2,642 crores over 9.5 years and spent 711 crores (26.92%). The current Congress government, in just two years, allocated 1,367 crores but has spent zero.

·       MBC Corporation: Established in 2017. From 2017 to the end of 2023, they allocated 3,850 crores but spent only 19 crores (19.78%). That's less than what is spent on tea and biscuits for the CM's office (approx. 5-10 crores a month). The MBCs are the lowest strata of society, and their livelihoods are in dire straits, yet only 19 crores were spent.

·       Other Corporations: There are 19 other corporations. BRS allocated 2,243 crores and spent 317 crores (14.13%). Congress allocated 2,252.84 crores but has spent zero so far. Recently, 17 crores were released for Gita workers, but for the rest, it is zero.

Overall, in the last 12 years, 13,157 crores were allocated to BC Corporations and caste associations, but only 1,058 crores (8.04%) were spent. Why create these corporations if you are going to waste the money?

Compare this to other sectors:

·       Sheep & Goat Department: BRS spent nearly 8,702 crores. The current government has spent zero on sheep or goats in the last two years.

·       Fisheries: BRS spent 230 crores; Congress has spent zero.

·       Handlooms: BRS spent 540 crores; the current budget reduced this by 113 crores, spending only 149 crores in two years.

They claim they are giving welfare schemes like Kalyana Lakshmi, free RTC passes, Gruha Jyothi, and LPG, totaling 70,000 crores, with 35,000 crores going to BCs. But we are asking for development, not just welfare. We want BCs to stand on their own feet and become economically independent. Why create corporations if you won't provide vocational training? For example, if you train Kummaris (idol makers) to make Ganesh idols, they can earn. Will you give even 100 crores for training? They gave 'Atmabhava Bhavanams' (self-respect buildings) in the previous term, but haven't released a single rupee for construction or training. They want BCs to survive only on grants and subsidies. Do you have no humanity? Are we not human beings?

Another issue: Last year, on March 17, we launched the 'Rajiv Yuva Shakti' scheme, promising a subsidy of up to 3 lakhs. We asked for online applications. 8 lakh applications came in, but the process required certificates that many didn't have, forcing them to sit with computer operators. The cost to process one application was estimated at 2,000 rupees, meaning 160 crores were spent on processing. Yet, not a single rupee was released to the beneficiaries. Last time, 6,000 crores were allocated for 'Rajiv Vikas'; this year, 5,800 crores were allocated, but only 200 crores were released for auto-rickshaw retro-fitting. This behavior shows they want BCs to live on thrown-away scraps and never become economically independent. Both the old and new governments do this because they fear that if BCs become economically strong, they will lose political power.

The new government introduced an MSME policy with reservations for SCs and STs but excluded BCs. We submitted a representation, a committee was formed, but two years later, the committee hasn't even discussed giving reservations to BCs.

Regarding Tuition Fee Reimbursement:

1.     SCs, STs, and Minorities get reimbursement even if they study in other states. Only Hindu BCs are denied reimbursement if they study outside the state. Is being born a Hindu BC a sin?

2.     The maximum reimbursement for BCs is capped at 35,000 rupees. If the rank is within 10,000, they get full reimbursement. But college fees are rising to 75,000 or even 1 lakh rupees. Who pays the difference? BCs have to pay out of pocket. SCs and STs get 100% reimbursement. Muslim BCs (Doodhewala, Pinjari) get 100% via the Minority Corporation. Christian BCs get 100% via the Christian Corporation. But Hindu BCs are left with only 35,000. Is this policy fair? Do our representatives ask this in the Assembly?

We also condemn the recent comments by a preacher criticizing the Mid-Day Meal scheme.

On the Central Government side: The BJP government has a budget of 54 lakh crores this year, but they allocated only 1,900 crores for OBCs. Is there any sense in this? At least scholarships and reimbursements should come from the Centre.

The State Government claims they don't have enough funds for salaries, yet they spend 300 crores on a fashion show, 11 crores on awards, and 60 lakhs on an anchor. They spend 500 crores annually on newspaper ads featuring their faces, even advertising in Bihar and planning for Tamil Nadu. But for BCs, the MBC corporation got zero in the last two years.

They claim they are spending on welfare, but where is the money for economic development? Why keep these corporations if you aren't using them?

Our Demands:

1.     Release the remaining 9,700 crores of the allocated 11,200 crores immediately (before March 31). Currently, 3,500 crores have been spent.

2.     Clear the pending tuition fee reimbursements. There are 7,000 crores pending. We demand 100% reimbursement for BC students, just like SCs, STs, and minorities.

3.     Include a BC Supplementary Budget provision, similar to the SC/ST plan, so unspent funds carry forward.

4.     Revise the BC Plan allocation to 50,000 crores as per our earlier demands.

If these demands are not met, we will launch statewide tours to create awareness about the injustices. You may think BCs are loyal because you won local body elections, but that era is over. BCs will teach you a lesson in the upcoming Assembly elections. We are not saying we will block roads, but the anger is deep, and it will manifest in votes.

We urge the Congress government to wake up. You have been in a trance. You must apologize for the two years of injustice done to BCs and revise the budget to 50,000 crores immediately.

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