NEW DELHI, April 16: Union Minister of State for Steel Srinivas Varma on Thursday said that the Women's Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill, taken up for debate in Parliament, had generated enormous anticipation among women across the country. He observed that women in both rural and urban areas were visibly glued to their television sets, eagerly watching the proceedings of the debate as they unfolded in real time.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasised that ensuring adequate representation for women in politics — particularly in decision-making positions — was essential for the holistic development of the nation. He expressed the view that greater participation of women in governance would accelerate positive changes in the social and economic spheres at a much faster pace.

Pointing to the tangible results of reservations extended to women in local bodies across the country, Srinivas Varma argued that a similar transformation was now needed at the level of State Legislatures and Parliament. The impact of women's participation in local governance had already been felt nationwide, he said, and it was time to replicate that success at higher levels of democratic representation.

Expressing confidence that the Women's Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill would be passed, the Minister described its enactment as a pivotal milestone in the political history of India. The Bill would significantly enhance the political representation of women and further strengthen democracy in the country, he added.

Calling upon all political parties to set aside their differences and extend wholehearted support to the Bill, Srinivas Varma said that collective cooperation was indispensable for legislation that advances women's empowerment. In the larger national interest, all sections of society and political opinion must work together to ensure the Bill's passage, he urged.

AMARAVATI, April 16: Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party State president P.V.N. Madhav on Thursday expressed jubilation over the introduction of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill — encompassing both the Women's Reservation and Delimitation provisions — in Parliament, describing it as a historic milestone in India's democratic journey and a decisive step towards women's empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, Madhav noted that the issue of women's reservation had been under discussion in the country's political discourse for nearly 30 years since 1996, and that despite successive governments coming to power, a firm decision to give effect to the Bill had remained elusive for decades.

He praised the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a landmark step forward through the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam to ensure political representation for women. The introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill, he said, was a crucial decision aimed at further strengthening the role of women in the nation's governance.

Madhav explained that the Central government had introduced these amendments with the aim of ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies by the time of the 2029 General Elections, while simultaneously accelerating the delimitation process. Based on the 2011 Census data, the quota is to be implemented with 33 per cent reservations applicable to SC and ST communities as well, with the total number of Lok Sabha seats set to be expanded to as many as 850, he added.

The Bill would open the door for adequate representation of women not only in Parliament but also in State Legislatures, Madhav observed. He emphasised that this was not merely a political decision but a significant milestone in the pursuit of social justice.

Expressing optimism about the transformative potential of greater women's participation, Madhav said that increased representation of women would accelerate the nation's development and strengthen women's leadership from the grassroots to the national level.

The BJP State president concluded by saying that the decision marked the beginning of a new chapter in women's empowerment in the history of Indian democracy.

VIJAYAWADA, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party observed the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at its State headquarters here on Tuesday, with senior party leaders garlanding a portrait of the jurist-statesman and offering floral tributes in his memory.

Addressing the gathering, BJP SC Morcha State president Pantala Suresh said that the party, under State president P.V.N. Madhav, was organising a series of service programmes across Andhra Pradesh to mark the occasion. He emphasised that Ambedkar was not a leader confined to any caste, religion, or region, but a universal leader whose ideology transcended all boundaries. The BJP, he said, would remain at the forefront of carrying that message to the people.

Mr. Suresh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government had been working in consonance with Ambedkar's ideals, ensuring dignity and opportunity for the most marginalised sections of society. He invoked the principle of Antyodaya — welfare reaching the last person in the social order — as the defining spirit of the Modi government's approach to governance. In this context, he described the Prime Minister as a "nava yuga Ambedkar" — an Ambedkar for the new age.

He added that in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA government under Mr. Madhav's leadership had drawn up a specific action plan for the development of weaker and disadvantaged communities, and that the BJP would always remain committed to the pursuit of social justice.

Among those present were BJP State general secretary Boddu Nagalakshmi, District president Adduri Sriram, Minority Morcha State president Syed Basha, State spokesperson Sheikh Baji, and party leaders Padmaja, Kambhampati Madhavi, Kolapalli Ganesh, Paila Suresh, and Muvvala Venkata Subbayya.

VISAKHAPATNAM, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party marked the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the city on Monday with a formal commemoration at Daaba Gardens, where BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav garlanded a portrait of the Constitution's chief architect and offered floral tributes.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Mr. Madhav described Ambedkar as a towering figure who breathed life into the ideal of social equality. "The path he showed remains a guiding light for the nation," he said, adding that Ambedkar's vision of social justice and equal rights would continue to serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

The BJP State president called upon every citizen to imbibe Ambedkar's principles in their daily lives and work actively towards the building of an egalitarian society. He reiterated that the BJP remained firmly committed to realising the ideals that Ambedkar had espoused.

Senior party functionaries and workers were present at the event.

Guntur, April 14: The 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, was observed with due solemnity at the Guntur NGO Home on Monday, with government employees and association members gathering to reaffirm their commitment to his ideals of equality and social justice.

The commemoration programme was presided over by NGGO District President Ghantasala Srinivasarao, who called upon those present to march forward in unity towards realising the aspirations of Dr. Ambedkar. "Dr. Ambedkar's life stands as a testament to an extraordinary struggle for equality and social justice," he said, urging employees to discharge their duties responsibly and serve society with dedication. He particularly emphasised that every employee must imbibe and practise Dr. Ambedkar's enduring exhortation — "Educate, Organise, Agitate" — in both professional and personal life.

State Vice-President Sheikh Nagoor Sharif, addressing the gathering, said that Dr. Ambedkar's thoughts must serve as a guiding light for every government employee. "We must walk the path he showed us and strive ceaselessly for equality and justice," he said, calling upon the cadre to remain steadfast in upholding constitutional values.

The programme was attended by Guntur City President and Secretary Ch. Kalyan Kumar and G.V. Koteswara Rao, District Executive Members K.N. Sukumar, Ch. Anil, B. Krishna Kishor and K. Narasimha Rao, City Executive Members Sunil Bavannarayana and Paul Prasad, Women's Wing Chairperson Sheikh Tajunisa, Naga Pavani, Zainabi, and Jasinta, along with a large number of employees who made the event a success.

Amaravati, April 14: The Andhra Pradesh BC Employees Federation has urged the Central government to provide a special sub-quota for Backward Classes women within the Women's Reservation Bill, warning that social justice would remain incomplete without adequate representation for the state's most marginalised communities.

State president Polaki Srinivasarao, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said that while the provision of 33 per cent reservation for women was a welcome development, it was imperative to ensure that BC women received a defined share within that allocation. The absence of any explicit guarantee for BC women in the current framework, he cautioned, would render the bill's empowerment objectives only partially fulfilled.

Mr. Srinivasarao pointed out that Backward Classes constitute a significant proportion of the country's population, and their continued exclusion from meaningful political representation would impede their socio-economic advancement. He drew particular attention to the challenges faced by BC women in rural areas, arguing that political representation offered them the most effective platform for addressing structural inequities.

Drawing a parallel with existing provisions for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women under the bill, the Federation president argued that extending a comparable sub-quota to BC women was essential to achieving genuine equality. Such a measure, he said, would not merely serve political ends but contribute substantively to broader social equilibrium.

The Federation called upon the Central government to respond without delay, introduce appropriate amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill, and initiate a nationwide consultative process that takes into account the views of all sections of society before the legislation is finalised.

• సాధారణ నియామకాలకు సమాంతరంగా కారుణ్య నియామకాలతో ఉద్యోగాలు భర్తీ చేయాలి
• ఎస్సీ,ఎస్టీ ఎంప్లాయిస్ అసోసియేషన్

అమరావతి ( జర్నలిస్ట్ ఫైల్ ) : రాష్ట్రంలో పలు ప్రభుత్వ శాఖల్లో పెండింగ్ లో ఉన్న కారుణ్య నియామకాల భర్తీ విషయంలో ప్రభుత్వం నిర్లక్ష్యం  తగదని ఎస్సీ,ఎస్టీ ఎంప్లాయిస్ అసోసియేషన్ రాష్ట్ర అధ్యక్షులు దేవరపల్లి సురేష్ పేర్కొన్నారు.పంచాయతీరాజ్ శాఖలో జూనియర్ క్వాలిటీ కంట్రోలర్ ఆఫీసర్ గా పనిచేసి రెండు సంవత్సరాల క్రితం అనారోగ్యంతో మరణించిన తాడేపల్లికి చెందిన మిశనం నాగరాజు భార్యకు ఇంతవరకు ఎలాంటి ఉద్యోగం ప్రభుత్వం ఇవ్వకపోవడం తీవ్ర ఆవేదన కలిగించే అంశమన్నారు.నాగరాజు భార్య సుజాత శనివారం సురేష్ బాబుని కలిసి తన సమస్య పరిష్కారానికి సహకరించాలని కోరారు.ఈసందర్భంగా సురేష్ బాబు మాట్లాడుతూ పంచాయతీరాజ్ శాఖలో పనిచేస్తూ మరణించిన నాగరాజు భార్య సుజాత కారుణ్య నియామకం ద్వారా ఏదో ఒక ఉద్యోగం ఇప్పించాలని పలుమార్లు పంచాయతీరాజ్ రాష్ట్ర కమిషనర్ కార్యాలయం చుట్టూ రెండు సంవత్సరాలుగా  తిరుగుతున్నప్పటికీ అధికారులు కనీసం స్పందించలేదని ఆవేదన వ్యక్తం చేశారు.ప్రభుత్వ విధులు నిర్వహిస్తూ మరణించిన కుటుంబాలకు చెందిన బాధితులకు కారుణ్య నియామకం ద్వారా వెంటనే ఉద్యోగం ఇచ్చేలా ప్రభుత్వం ప్రత్యేక చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలన్నారు.సాధారణ ఉద్యోగ నియామకాలతో పాటు సమాంతరంగా కారుణ్య నియామకాలను కూడా ఎప్పటికప్పుడు భర్తీ చేయాలని  కోరారు.మరణించిన ఉద్యోగుల కుటుంబాల సంక్షేమం,భద్రత ప్రభుత్వ కనీస బాధ్యతగా భావించి తక్షణమే కారుణ్య నియామకాలు చేపట్టాలన్నారు.పంచాయితీరాజ్ శాఖలో పెండింగ్ లో ఉన్న ఇలాంటి సమస్యలను తక్షణమే పరిష్కరించేలా డిప్యూటీ సీఎం పవన్ కళ్యాణ్ చొరవ చూపాలన్నారు.సుజాత సమస్యను అసోసియేషన్ పక్షాన పంచాయతీరాజ్ ఉన్నతాధికారుల దృష్టికి తీసుకెళ్లి పరిష్కారానికి కృషి చేస్తామని సురేష్ బాబు తెలిపారు.