Federal front will fight centralisation of power: KTR

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) K.T. Rama Rao lamented the absence of federal spirit in the country, and attributed Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s proposal for a federal front to this very reason.

Addressing the gathering to celebrate B.R. Ambedkar’s 127th birth anniversary on Saturday at the ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar T-Pride Awards 2018’ organised by the DICCI, Mr. Rama Rao said Ambedkar intended India to be a federal republic through the Constitution, but the spirit is nowhere to be seen. Through his front, the Chief Minister wanted to contend the increasing centralisation of power, he said.

Telangana would not have been a separate State, had it not been for Ambedkar who spoke against the proposal to make the joint state assembly’s resolution for state division in the Constituent Assembly, he pointed out, adding that the Ambedkarite motto of ‘Educate, Organise, Agitate’ was adopted for Telangana movement too.

Responding to certain issues raised by the DICCI, he assured to organise a meeting in 10 to 15 days with all departments concerned and announce more supportive schemes for Dalit entrepreneurs.

Manual scavengers employed with water board have been upgraded as contractors through acquisition of 75 mini jetting machines, and 75 more are in the process of being acquired. Caste which is entrenched in the Indian society must be fought with capital alone, Mr. Rama Rao said.

He presented a cheque for ₹200 crore for disbursal to Dalit entrepreneurs through T- Pride initiative.

Earlier, N. Ravi Kumar, president of the DICCI South India chapter, sought priority for industries involved in manufacturing, and State government’s subvention in the 25% beneficiary contribution for availing capital support under Central government’s ‘Stand Up India’ programme.

MOUs were exchanged between SC Corporation and companies such as Uber and Swiggy for promoting entrepreneurship among Dalit aspirants. Minister for SC Development G. Jagadish Reddy, SC Corporation chairman Pidamarthi Ravi, Principal Secretary, Industries, Jayesh Ranjan, Adviser to Government G. Vivekanand attended the event.