Retain Our Caste Name; Arekatikas to BC panel

Hyderabad: Representatives of the Telangana State Arekatika (Katika) Sangh met BC Commission chairman G. Niranjan on Monday and requested the retention of their caste name, Arekatika. They voiced concern over non-Arekatikas acquiring slaughterhouses through auctions and highlighted exploitation, such as unfair pricing for goat slaughter and mistreatment by village development committees.

They also sought financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for those in their profession, equal facilities and recognition as nomadic tribes due to their itinerant lifestyle. Additionally, they requested that scholarships for children of those in unhygienic occupations be extended to them, enabling access to social welfare department hostels.

Meanwhile, the BC Commission said that stated that the deadline for raising objections ended on Saturday. The commission had given 15 days for receipt of objections to the change of names and addition of synonyms in respect of eight castes

The commission said it had received more than 500 objections and appeals in the matter.

The commission will examine these affidavits and take a decision on the change of names of some castes, especially those that are derogatory in the society, without disturbing the culture of the castes of Telangana. The commission said that in future, the students, youth and employees belonging to the respective castes will not be subjected to any feeling of inferiority.

The castes have requested that the district restrictions be lifted in the matter of the ‘Bhunjwa’ caste and that the caste called ‘Dhangar’ in the combined Adilabad district, whose profession is sheep and goat rearing, be included in the BC list.

BC Commission chairman G. Niranjan, members Rapolu Jayaprakash, Tirumalagiri Surender, Balalakshmi Ranga, Satish Kumar, special officer, Lakshminarayana, and research officer participated in discussions with the caste associations.