Consolidation of power, by all the non-dominant groups in the State should happen to achieve equality, members of the Telangana Mass and Social Organisations Forum (T-MASS Forum) said in unison, here on Wednesday.
A confluence of more than 270 small organisations and associations, the Forum is a platform to fight for social, political and democratic rights of the “uncared SC, STs, OBCs and minorities, who are victims of the present government,” the steering committee member Tammineni Veerabhadram said. “All the schemes launched in the State are dubiously planned in the name of developing the backward sections,” he alleged. It will only strengthen the unequal caste order, based on occupations, he pointed.
Professors, social scientists, members from vulnerable and minority organisations, trade and student wings who were present at the Forum also said that the TRS Government was akin to the Nizam’s with regard to its restrictive rule, and it should be put to an end by 2019.Writer and academician Kancha Ilaiah who spoke at the event said English education was more than necessary, and the need of the hour for children from vulnerable and minority sections. “Only then you can compete with the dominant groups for political and social equality,” he told the audience.Asking why Nalgonda University was not named after Mahatma Gandhi, and not Chakali Ilamma, a prominent leader of the Telangana armed struggle, Mr. Ilaiah said the Forum would pursue all efforts for the name change.
Also present with the large audience was social balladeer and folk artist Gaddar, who performed with the local artistes. Depicting the ‘sad state of the lower caste groups’ through various songs and skits, he said a ‘Social Telangana’ is possible only when repressed groups get political space.
The Forum has completed its tour to 20 places so far, and proposes to visit all districts in future, Vaidyam Venkateswarlu from the organising committee said.