‍‍‍‍‍The Messiah Of Dalits, Crusader Praveen Kumar Vow To Change The Political Scenario In Telangana

The retired IPS officer Dr R S Praveen Kumar recently joined the Bahujan Samaj Party at a huge rally held at Nalgonda and vowed to bring Bahujan Rajyam (rule of the downtrodden) and a drastic change in  Telangana politics.

Praveen Kumar’s massive show of strength was promptly highlighted in the media. Especially, the Telugu media gave him a massive coverage on the front page with the headline quoting him that he would go to Pragathi Bhavan on an elephant (election symbol of BSP) after the next elections.

Having gained tremendous influence among the Dalits due to his Swaero Movement in the last nine years, Praveen Kumar will definitely be a threat to the mainstream parties – the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Congress and the BJP in the next elections.

However, it all depends on his future strategies.
The retired IPS officer’s entry into active politics in Telangana has triggered a debate in the media circles as to which party would be the most affected by the BSP.

What is needed for a person who sets a goal for himself to reach his own community people first and then expand his base among other sections of people? Is it mass base or intellectual attainments in the crucial subjects of equality and social justice?  
Is there any scope for a political novice to influence the electorate without depending on money and muscle power in the present electoral scenario?  These are some of the crucial questions that are at the back of the minds of different sections of people, be it elite and marginalized, following the plunge of former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar on the political firmament of Telangana State.

His joining the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), headed by former UP Chief Minister Mayawati, has raised many eyebrows as this former civil servant has begun sailing with a party with Dalit base and ideology.

Of course, Praveen has been working for the development of students from marginalized sections of society. He has always preferred to work for the students of Residential Educational Institutions Society of Social Welfare Department rather than wearing police uniform and that too on his personal request to the Chief Ministers of successive governments, right from the days of the combined state of Andhra Pradesh.

Hailing from the backward Mahabubnagar district, Praveen entered IPS and devoted himself to the service of students who come from disadvantaged sections and successfully made them pursue their higher studies in prestigious and reputed educational institutional institutions across the country.  So, strong feelings of gratitude developed in the minds of lakhs of students(fondly called 'swaeros' - combination of 'sw' for social welfare and the word 'aero' from the Greek word for the sky).

His inaugural address at Nalgonda town on the occasion of his joining BSP is considered to be a throwback to NTR's 1985 rally in the same town from where NTR contested the Assembly elections for the first time, apart from two seats viz. Gudivada (Krishna district) and Hindupur (Anantapur district).  

The overwhelming response that Praveen Kumar got in his first ever address in Nalgonda suggests that he has a smooth ride ahead when it comes to his further political moves.

According to an analyst, Praveen Kumar might eat into the vote banks of all the three major parties and the TRS would have to face the biggest brunt.

Interestingly, there is also a discussion on the impact of Praveen Kumar on the prospects of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), a new regional party launched by Y S Sharmila, daughter of former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.

Analysts say Praveen Kumar’s entry would play a spoil sport with whatever little chances Sharmila party would have to make its presence felt in the next elections, because most of the voters Sharmila has been planning to attract might turn towards the BSP.

“Hitherto, there were some calculations that Sharmila’s party would have chances of winning half a dozen assembly seats, if not more, particularly in Khammam and Nalgonda districts.

But now, the chances are bleak for her as Praveen Kumar is focussing on polarising the SC, ST and BC voters in the state,” an analyst said.

If Sharmila has to sustain her party in the state, she has to adopt an aggressive approach, pool all her resources and come out with innovative strategies.
Otherwise, she would end up like what Jana Sena Party was in Andhra Pradesh in 2019 elections.

On the other hand, many officers from the All India Services have previously taken such a plunge into politics. But Most of them did so only after retirement. Former IPS officer PV Rangaiah Naidu entered politics shortly after his retirement and successfully contested from the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency, besides becoming a Union Minister in PV Narasimha Rao's cabinet in 1991. Another police officer and former director of CBI K.Vijayarama Rao also tried his luck in the Khairatabad Assembly seat, became victorious, and joined the Chandrababu Naidu's cabinet in 1999.

Some more leaders like Lakshminarayana (former JD, CBI), V. Dinesh Reddy (former DGP,  AP),  K.Ratna Prabha (former Chief Secretary, Karnataka) & K. Balakondaiah (former DIG,  AP)  unsuccessfully contested from Lok Sabha seats and decided to keep themselves away from active politics later.

Most civil servants enters politics through a party with a strong base and strong chances of capturing power so that they could get plum posts post elections. Praveen Kumar is different. The party he joined has no base in Telangana. It has no history of getting sizeable votes anywhere in the state, even in combined Andhra Pradesh. There have been only two occasions when BSP nominees got elected to Assembly. BSP candidate L. Raja  Rao  was elected to the Assembly from Visakhapat-nam district in the 2004  elections, largely due to his personal image.

Interestingly there were 10 registered parties in the 2004 Assembly elections. Two Congress leaders A.Indrakaran Reddy and Koneru Konappa got elected to the Assembly from Nirmal & Sirpur Kagaznagar respectively on BSP tickets, as they could not get tickets from their parent party. But they joined ruling TRS, in the name of merger, for better political prospects. Indrakaran is now Minister for Endowments in K.Chandrasekhar Rao's cabinet.

Praveen has a tough agenda. He will find it difficult to keep the SCs united. Everybody knows that the issue of categorisation of quota for SCs has created a wedge in sub-castes of SCs.

There is a strong link between categorisation of quota for SCs and upper castes ' plans of thwarting efforts for unity among them.

Former BSP late chief Kanshi Ram had visited AP and concentrated on the elections 1994. As per his assessment then, BSP would be the deciding factor in 100 Assembly seats and would get a considerable number of seats.

Yet, BSP failed to registered its presence in AP. Noted Dalit leader who fought for justice for the deceased in 'Karamchedu massacre' Katti Padma Rao was the only BSP nominee who got his deposit in the Bapatla Assembly seat by securing 21,000 votes.

The issue of categorisation of quota for SCs was kept alive. Every political party in Andhra Pradesh backed categorisation. Principal political parties like TDP and Congress were left with no option but to woo the members of Mala sub caste of SCs who oppose categorisation.  

Chandrababu had to propose a leader from Mala community GMC Balayogi as nominee for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker in 1998. The largest beneficiary of categorization, Madiga caste, did not hesitate to fume at Mala community for opposing the issue.

The Chandrababu government organised recruitment drives as per the new categorisation that provided government jobs for a large number of applicants from the Madiga community that has become heartburn for the opposing community. In this way, the wedge between the two principal castes of the Scheduled Castes widened and this 'divide and rule policy ' came in handy for political parties dominated by upper castes to exercise control over SCs.

Transforming whole sections SCs into an organised force is going to be an uphill task for Praveen Kumar. Since the Madiga community is predominant in Telangana State, it is simply not possible for him to bring the two castes together.
Praveen may be pressurized to field party nominee in the forthcoming Huzurabad bypolls, though BSP has no strength there.

Preparing the party for the big electoral battle of 2023 may be an ideal programme for Praveen. A lot of money will be required for electoral battle and maintenance of a statewide organization.

People will be curious to see how he gets heaps of currency bundles without getting patronage of corporate giants! Only time will tell whether he will be a calf among lions (TRS, Congress & BJP) or a mighty 'elephant' among the same! #KhabarLive #hydnews

'Banana Flour' Is Becoming A New Spin In Making Idlis, ‍‍Dosas, Cutlets, Gulab Jamuns from Telugu States Farmers

A silent revolution is taking place among the farmers in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh because of banana flour concept.

Every year, farmers are badly hit by the price drop in bananas. It would go down to Rs 4 or Rs 5 per kilogram for bananas, discouraging farmers from investing in this tropical crop or banana cultivation. This year was no different. Farmers had to use leftover bananas to feed their cattle. 

However, Anandi, the wife of an organic farmer from Telangana, found a solution to put bananas to better and profitable use, thanks to a Facebook post.

In the first week of June this year, Anandi chanced upon a Facebook post shared by a veteran journalist and an agriculture educator. The post detailed the various usage of dried banana powder, including its wide usage as baby food. "Anandi called me and insisted that she wanted to learn how to make banana powder,” The journalist told ##KhabarLive. With the assistance of George, a subject matter specialist, home science, at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Anandi quickly learnt the mechanism to use dry banana and turn it into powder.

That was the beginning! The veteran journalist received many pictures from Anandi after she prepared the flour and started making a variety of delicacies out of it — dosas, chappatis, cutlets, gulab jamun, rotis and more. She made both raw and ripe banana flour. That is when Journalist decided to give it a push among the other farmers through WhatsApp groups.

It is a simple procedure, said the journo. “The banana has to be dried in the sun for three days and then ground in a grinder. In case of large quantity, it can be powdered in a local mill. Many farmers have dryers that are used for various purposes. A dryer makes it easier to dry bananas even during the monsoon," he said.

Journo encouraged Anandi to teach other farmers, too. "Today, more than 100 farmers have started making banana flour and are selling it locally. Some of them even have sold up to 100 kilograms of the flour,” he said, adding that considering its success, they are planning to expand the market.

Like Anandi, farmers who took up the challenge also prepared a lot of dishes using the flour, often using it as a replacement for maida or other all-purpose flour.

The journalist said that the idea has reached more than 300 families and many are waiting for the monsoon to get over. "Even the elderly people have started doing this and are happy that they are producing a nutritional product than wasting it," he added.

Uma, another wife of a farmer in AndhraPradesh, too, made banana flour at home and tried out some new recipes after journo told her about Anandi's innovation. “I made chappatis and pooris with banana flour. I also made cakes, pancakes, idlis, milkshakes and many other dishes,” she said. After the monsoon, Uma plans to produce banana flour on a commercial basis. “I am already getting a lot of enquiries. I actually dry the banana along with its peel as adds more fibre to our diet. For white-coloured flour, I add bananas without the peels," said Uma Reddy.

He popularised the concept in other areas, too. “I got in touch with Central Processing facility at Agricultural University in Hyderabad. “I requested them to process banana flour and distribute it to the residents there. It has now become popular in Hyderabad too," journo said.

He also added that Subbarayudu, Director at the National Research Centre for Banana, sent a congratulatory note to Anandi on her initiative that led to a silent revolution. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍Telugu States May Not Sail With Congress In National Politics Against Ruling BJP

It is evident that ruling TRS in Telangana and ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh are not interested to support Congress-led front managed by multiple parties against ruling BJP to act as a united front to combat in national politics.

Although West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may be having a lot of hopes that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the YSR Congress would join the proposed front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next General Election, it appears that the ruling parties in the Telugu states, which follow separate routes in national politics, may prefer to maintain equidistance from the saffron party and the grand old party.

During the previous Lok Sabha elections, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did make efforts to form a Federal Front against the BJP and the Congress. Now Mamata Banerjee has initiated steps to form a front against the BJP. The other day Didi, as Mamata Banerjee is endearingly called, told the media that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was like her brother and that she would speak to him about the need for him to join the front proposed against the BJP.

Since Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had met Mamata Banerjee twice and discussed the formation of the Federal Front, Didi has high hopes on KCR joining the front. But the main problem for both YSRCP and TRS is that the Congress is likely to have a role in the front.

In Telangana, Congress is the main opposition party. In Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress will never join hands with the Congress at any cost. For, it believes that the erstwhile Congress-led government had harassed YS Jagan by foisting cases and colluding with TDP, and sent him to jail also.

A senior YSR Congress leader close to YS Jagan said:"The Congress resorted to character assassination of YS Jagan with false cases and sent him to jail also. How can one expect that YSR Congress will support the Congress in national politics?" He said that YSR Congress will support Congress should Congress chief Sonia Gandhi accept that, when the Congress was in power at Centre, it registered false cases against YS Jagan by colluding with TDP to harass him.  

Besides, Sonia Gandhi should tender unconditional apology to YS Jagan openly. The YSR Congress leader said if Sonia Gandhi accepted these conditions, then YSR Congress would support the front in which Congress has a role.  

As for Telangana, KCR also may not support the front with Congress. Because TRS has to fight with the Congress in the state and joining hands with the same party at Centre was not possible, said a TRS leader.  

At present, TRS and YSR Congress are openly saying that they have been maintaining equal distance from BJP and Congress at the national level. Both the parties are, however, extending indirect support to the Centre whenever it needs. The national BJP leadership is also confident that YSR Congress and TRS will not support the Congress to form a government at Centre.

In this backdrop, Didi will have a tough time stitching up a front that has the ruling parties in Telugu states on board. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

‍Superstar Mahesh Babu's 'Birthday Exclusive' Interview

On the occasion of his birthday on August 9, Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu talks to #KhabarLive about his future projects, looks back on the last year and has a special message for his fans.

Prince Mahesh Babu’s fans were recently treated to the star’s stylish first look from his upcoming film Sarkaru Vaari Paata. His last film to release was Sarileru Neekevvaru in January 2020, one of the biggest hits in Tollywood that year, before the pandemic began. While shooting schedules and release dates have been postponed due to the pandemic, Mahesh Babu has been spending time with family, working, and even promoting vaccination drives. In an interview with #KhabarLive, the actor talks about his future projects with directors Trivikram Srinivas and SS Rajamouli, looks back on the last year and conveys a special message for his fans.

The past year has not been easy on anyone. Looking back on it, how was your experience?

It’s been a time to reflect and learn about many things. It has also been a blessing in disguise because I got to spend quality time with my family, especially my father, my wife and two children which I would not have got otherwise, given my work schedule and the kids’ school timings.

I know. But still, to be cooped up together for so long isn’t the easiest of situations to be in, right?

I know. It’s not been easy for any of us. But all in all it’s been good for me. It was a break none of us expected and I’ve tried to make the most of it.

And are you optimistic about the coming months?

I’m a very positive person and I only look at the situation with the hope that things will get better if we all follow the protocols and guidelines given by the authorities. Also, vaccines are a big confidence booster for us and I really hope that our country and the rest of the world is vaccinated in order to go back to our normal lives soon .

Do you see your next release Sarkaru Vaari Paata making it to theatres?

Yes, it will make it to the theatres on January 13, in time for Sankranthi, I am  confident about that. We’ve all suffered enough. We need a  break. My films are made for the big screen and that I will never take away from my fans. I respect the Over-the-top (OTT) platform. But that is a separate entity. It’s the movie theatre where I meet my fans. We have a pact.

Tell us about your forthcoming films?

I have Sarkaru Vaari Paata coming out in January 2022, followed by a film by Trivikram Srinivas. Then I have Rajamouli garu’s film 

Everyone wants to know what you plan to do with SS Rajamouli, another Baahubali?

I know everyone is curious, damn curious. Even I am (he laughs). It’s too early to talk about the project. But I can tell you, it will be very special. But no, not another Baahubali.

What is your advice to your fans during these trying times?

I’d  just like to say to all those reading this that this has been a difficult time for all of us and we are all in this together. We will come out stronger and we will win this fight together if we follow the guidelines of our authorities. Please wear a mask at all times. We have to always remember that we’re going to have to learn to live with this new virus in a way where we are all safe. We have to protect our loved ones from the virus in any way we can. The virus isn’t going away anytime soon.

Any final message to your fans?

I want to say I love my fans and thank them for always showering me with so much love like they always have. I am always very grateful. Getting vaccinated is a very important message I want to give all my fans. It’s our only hope to get back to a normal life.

On the other hand, in a social media message Superstar Mahesh Babu has appealed to his fans to plant saplings on his birthday on August 9.

As a part of Green India Challenge, the actor took to his Instagram account to urge his fans to plant saplings on his birthday in a way to demonstrate their love and affection towards him.

“It always humbles me... All the things you do to celebrate the love you have for me. This year, I have a special request. I urge you all to plant 3 saplings each on my birthday to support the #GreenIndiaChallenge. Tag me in your posts so I can see them too! :) #HaraHaiTohBharahai @santoshkumarjoginipally (sic),” he posted with a beautiful picture on his Instagram page.

Thanking Mahesh Babu, MP Santosh Kumar, the founder of GIC, wrote, “This is so nice  @urstrulyMahesh garu! It’s so moving gesture to ask your huge fan base to plant three saplings to show their love for you on your birthday as part of #GreenIndiaChallenge. It’s all because of the massive support from personalities like yours, we have come this far.”

Earlier in May, the actor launched a vaccination drive in the village he adopted in Andhra Pradesh on May 31, the birthday of his father actor Krishna. “Vaccination is our ray of hope for a normal life again! Doing my bit to ensure everyone in Burripalem is vaccinated and safe. Extremely grateful to #AndhraHospitals for helping us arrange this vaccination drive (sic),” the star had tweeted earlier.

On the workfront, Mahesh Babu has started shooting for Sarkaru Vaari Paata, directed by Parasuram. If everything goes according to plan, the filmmakers hope to release the film in January 2022. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍‍‍How Badminton Star Sindhu Makes Telugu States United With Her Medal Achievement?

At a time when the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana bicker about their share of river waters, the phenomenon called P.V. Sindhu makes all of them and their leaders forget these issues a while with her athletic exploits and Olympic medals.

Sindhu is a major unifying factor and is equally celebrated by both the Telugu states every time she wins.

When she won the badminton silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Telangana government rewarded her with a sum of Rs 5 crore, while Andhra Pradesh gave her Rs 3 crore and a plum state government job.

Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offered her the job of a Deputy Collector, which is the top job through the state public service commission's recruitment process.

In fact, a Deputy Collector's job leads one to become a conferred Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer later on in their career.

As an employee of the Andhra Pradesh government, Sindhu says she is always encouraged and helped with working leave when needed.

Will Sindhu also go on to become a senior official in the state government after completing her badminton conquests, taking a leaf out of former fast bowler and inaugural 2007 T20 world cup winning Indian team member Joginder Sharma? Will have to wait and watch for some more years.

Sharma bowled the last over of the T20 world cup to trounce Pakistan and went on to become a senior officer in the Haryana state police department.

After winning her historic second medal at the Tokyo games, becoming first Indian woman to do so, Andhra Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy hailed her as the lone Indian woman to do it.

"All good wishes and congratulations to our Telugu girl Sindhu for winning Bronze for India at Tokyo Olympics 2020," said Reddy.

He did not stop with the wishes but proceeded to reward the state government employee and Olympian with a cash award of Rs 30 lakh.

The Andhra government handed over the cheque to the badminton superstar on Friday after she met Reddy along with her family.

Minister Avanti Srinivas handed over the cheque to Sindhu in the presence of special chief secretary Rajat Bhargava and I & PR Commissioner Vijay Kumar Reddy.

Even before leaving for Tokyo, Reddy met Sindhu and handed over a cash incentive of Rs 5 lakh, along with a copy of the government order allocating 2 acre of land to Sindhu to set up a badminton academy in the port city Visakhapatnam, which will soon become the executive capital of the southern state.

On being asked when she would set up the academy, the much loved shuttler said she would do it soon.
"I am so grateful for your continuous support Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, thank you sir," said Sindhu.

She said the Chief Minister is constantly supporting her and even assured that they are always behind her, including offering whatever she needs to make sure she keeps winning.

"I am very happy. He (Reddy) congratulated me. The Chief Minister blessed and told me to definitely bring a medal and I brought a medal. The whole state has been congratulating me. Thanks to all of them," she said.

In fact, Reddy himself urged her to start the academy soon to nurture more youngsters like her.
The ace shuttler also praised the Andhra Pradesh government for introducing schemes to encourage sports-persons.

Appreciating the state government for reserving 2 per cent jobs for sports-persons in government posts, Sindhu said: "It is appreciable to know that the state government is giving YSR awards to sportspersons to encourage them."

After reaching Hyderabad from Tokyo via Delhi, Sindhu received a rousing welcome in Telangana state as well. V. Srinivas Goud, the Telangana Sports Minister, was present at the airport to personally welcome her along with other senior officials.

Goud also met Sindhu before leaving for Tokyo and playfully engaged in a short badminton game with her.

Several Tollywood actors celebrated the badminton superstar's success with equal zest, including Lakshmi Manchu, Mahesh Babu, Varun Tej, Sharat Chandra and others.

Telugu film legend and megastar from Mogalturu village Chiranjeevi said: "Congrats Sindhu on winning the medal and creating history for being the first Indian woman to bring Olympic medal twice in a row."

Outside the sporting realm, the badminton virtuoso unites both the states by embracing and revering deities in the Telugu states.

She is a regular at Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple Bonalu celebrations. Like a traditional Telangana girl, Sindhu carries the �Bonam' during the popular festival in Hyderabad.

Similarly, she has great devotion for Kanakadurgamma at Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada. She visited Kanakadurgamma temple on her return from Tokyo along with her family members.

Sindhu said she is a devotee of the deity and visits the temple regularly.
The shuttler not only unites but has also inspired a generation of young people with her sporting excellence, resulting in more youngsters taking up the sport nowadays in the Telugu states. Sindhu and her victories are leaving a lasting positive effect on both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as well as the whole nation. #KhabarLive #hydnews

‍Telangana CM ‍KCR's Dalit Outreach Raises Political Dust Ahead Of Huzurabad By-Election

The Huzurabad Assembly constituency in Telangana is witnessing an intense political bickering between ruling TRS and the opposition parties over an ambitious scheme announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to woo Dalits.

The Dalit Bandhu scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to identified Dalit families and promote entrepreneurship among them, has raised the political temperature in the state even before the announcement of the bypoll schedule by the Election Commission.

With the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government going ahead with the launch of Dalit Bandhu as a pilot project in the Huzurabad constituency, the opposition parties have dubbed it as a poll stunt and questioned KCR's concern for Dalits.

The Chief Minister has defended his move for implementation of the scheme on pilot basis in Huzurabad saying there is nothing wrong if TRS was looking to derive political mileage from this.

Citing the Chief Minister's statement, some NGOs have moved the Election Commission of India and even the high court seeking directions to stop the scheme.

Social activist Akkala Suresh Kumar has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Telangana High Court challenging Dalit Bandhu's implementation in Huzurabad.

He argues that the government should start implementation of the scheme in any the 16 Assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes in the state.
By-election to Huzurabad, which is an open Assembly seat, is likely to be held soon.

The seat fell vacant last month with the resignation of former minister Eatala Rajender. He also quit TRS to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has already decided to give him the ticket for the bypoll.
Rajender's resignation from TRS and Assembly came after he was dropped from the Cabinet by KCR following allegations of land encroachment.

The Forum for Good Governance, an NGO, recently urged the Election Commission of India to stop the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad.

Forum secretary M. Padmanabha Reddy, in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, stated that due to various reasons, the by-election has become a prestige issue for the ruling party. There is a general feeling that the result of this by-election will have an impact on the next Assembly elections.

"I am not a saint living in Himalayas. I am a politician and I am introducing this scheme in Huzurabad for electoral gains only - what is wrong with it," the letter quoted the Chief Minister as saying at a recent party meeting.

Last week, KCR held a day-long meeting with 450 Dalit representatives from Huzurabad to discuss the implementation of the scheme.

He stated that by making the scheme a success in Huzurabad, it should be made a torchbearer for the Dalit community in the entire country. He claimed that the Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme is being implemented to remove economic disparity and also social discrimination of the Dalits.

KCR desired that with the financial assistance given under the scheme, the Dalit community should develop itself as a business community by selecting industries, employment, and business of their choice.

Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each will be provided to eligible beneficiaries from Dalit community.

Under the first phase, 100 families from each of the 119 Assembly constituencies will be identified. The government has announced an allocation of Rs 1,200 crore for the scheme.

At a meeting to welcome some leaders of the BJP and the Congress into the TRS on July 30, KCR had reiterated that the government would implement the scheme at any cost.

"Opposition parties are worried about their fate as the scheme will be implemented all over the state. It was supposed to be launched last year, but got delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic," he had said, adding that the government is ready to spend Rs 1 lakh crore on the scheme.

He attributed the birth of several schemes in Telangana to the deep study of the lives of sections that could not benefit from development in the past.

"You need a heart to understand their plight and how they missed out," he argued.

Over the last 2-3 weeks, the Chief Minister held a series of meetings to discuss the modalities for ‘Dalit Bandhu'.

The opposition parties, however, questioned KCR's concern for Dalits. Both the Congress and the BJP reminded him of his promise made before 2014 that a Dalit will be the first Chief Minister of Telangana.

"Why not a single leader from the 18 per cent strong Dalit community was considered for the CM's post," asked state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay.

He also wanted to know what happened to KCR's promise of 3-acre land for every Dalit family and to solve the issue of ‘podu' lands tilled by the tribals.
Congress leader Dasoju Sravan wants to know what KCR did for Dalits in last seven years.

"This scheme has been announced with an eye on the by-elections. If he is really sincere in improving the socio-economic conditions, why the government is failing every year to spend the funds allocated under the SC ST Sub Plan," asked Sravan.

This Dalit outreach by the TRS chief comes at a time when there is a feeling that the backward classes are moving closer to BJP.
Rajender, who was associated with TRS since its inception, is a leader from the Mudiraj community, a backward class. Given the huge popularity he enjoys in Huzurabad, he is likely to pose a big challenge to the ruling party in the by-election.

Bandi Sanjay and another BJP MP D. Arvind are from Munnuru Kapus, one of the BC communities KCR relied for support over the last seven years.

Some political analysts also see this Dalit outreach in the context of two other key political developments -- Revanth Reddy taking over as the president of Congress party in the state and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's daughter Y.S. Sharmila launching her political party in Telangana.

"Dalit Bandhu has surely made heads turn in Telangana and across the country. Proposal to allocate Rs 10 lakhs per family might surely help alleviate poverty from those selected families. However, there are potential risks associated due to political implications," said political analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.

He is of the view that selecting only 100 families per village will surely alienate other Dalits and economically backward sections. Unless KCR and TRS culls potential risks, road ahead will be filled with many political potholes, he observed.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, are pushed on to the backfoot on the issue of Dalit welfare.

"Both the BJP and Congress will have to make extremely convincing arguments for them to counter the advantage KCR and TRS has with Dalit Bandhu," he added. #KhabarLive #hydnews 

Fossil Park Proposed In Asifabad After Archeological Discovery In Telangana

A team of researchers recently found prehistoric tools in a limestone cave, along fossils that are around 6.5 crore years old in the district in Telangana.

A recent research project undertaken in Telangana’s Komaram Bheem Asifabad district revealed a new fossil site, adding to the collection of the already fossil-rich state. Researchers found gastropod fossils which, they say, lived around 6.5 crore years ago in the Ginnedhari forest range of Asifabad district. This discovery has led archaeologists and historians to demand a fossil park in the district. 

The team was led by Dr MA Srinivasan, General Secretary of Public Research Institute for History, Archaeology & Heritage (PRIHA). Forest Range Officer Thodishetty Pranay, who is also a member of PRIHA, conducted field surveys in the area to recognise and collect the fossils.
Speaking to #KhabarLive, Dr MA Srinivas said, “Mancherial and Asifabad are two districts in Telangana that are rich in fossils. In the south, Tamil Nadu has fossil parks but Andhra Pradesh and Telangana do not have a fossil park. There were plans to set up a fossil park in this area but it did not materialise. The government must consider the idea and take it up.” 

A fossil park is a site that is rich in plant, animal and even human fossils. Fossils can reveal very interesting details about lifeforms that existed on earth several millions of years ago, and help scientists study the process of evolution. Once fossils are found, geological research helps decide the age by studying the sedimentation process.

“For around a month, the members of the team have been surveying the area hoping to find fossils. The snail-like species has been identified as the Physa Tirpolensis by eminent paleontologist and retired Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Chakilam Venugopal Rao.” Interestingly, similar gastropod fossils were discovered three decades ago by a GSI official in Terpole village of Telangana’s Sangareddy district, from which Physa Tirpolensis— belonging to genus Physa— got its name.

Recently, the team also discovered a limestone cave in Asifabad with prehistoric tools including a hand-axe and a cleaver. 

“After the finding of a prehistoric limestone cave in the same region and now the fossils, the potential and importance for research in Asifabad is once again reiterated,” said Dr Srinivasan. #KhabarLive 

#OpEd: Appropriation Bill Imbroglio In Andhra Pradesh A Blow To Polity

By Dr. Shelly Ahmed

The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, while commenting on the performance of duties, had once said, "The true source of right is a duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek. If leaving duties unperformed, we run after rights, they will escape us like will­o'-the­wisp, the more we pursue them, the farther they will fly."

The imbroglio in the AP Legislative Council over the passing of the Appropriation Bill leading to sine die adjournment without even introduction of the Bill comes as a body blow to our polity. Does any government or its Opposition, for that matter, have a right to stretch its political agenda to such an extent that it buries its duty towards the citizens' fathoms deep?

A Tale Of Modern Slavery Has Horrified America, But In India It's A Familiar Story

It's the story of Eudocia Tomas Pulido, or Lola, the family nanny who was given as a "gift" to Alex Tizon's mother in the Philippines, who followed the family to the United States, and raised Alex and his siblings. She was not paid. She was not allowed to go back to visit her family. She was abused by Tizon's parents and, in the end, when she was finally "free", she had nowhere to go.

Genetic Isolation in Casteist India Could Could Render Some People More Vulnerable to Disease

There is reduced genetic variation among the people of some subpopulations because they have been genetically isolated due to various factors – such as caste.

The occurrence of genetic diseases in certain subpopulations in India and other countries in South Asia is well known. Indian scientists now suspect that this could be due to genetic isolation caused by endogamous marriages over generations.

At The Root Of All Lynchings: Vigilantes Don’t Expect To Be Punished, Victims Don’t Expect To Get Justice

Pehlu Khan, a Muslim, was lynched by Hindu criminals, professing to be cow vigilantes. The incident fills one with grief and anger. Around the same time, Farook, a Muslim atheist in Coimbatore, was lynched by Muslim criminals, claiming to be true believers.

Search deeper and you will find the case of a Hindu doctor lynched by a mainly Muslim mob, over a cricket dispute. Hindu rail passengers lynched a Muslim youth, in what began as a dispute over seats.

Inside Chandrababu Naidu’s plan to make Andhra Pradesh a sunrise state

Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘Sunrise Andhra Pradesh-Vision 2029’ aims to make the state India’s most developed, overcoming the legacy issues that came with the creation of Telangana.

In the calendar of the state administration of Andhra Pradesh, the second day of the week is not a Monday. Instead, it is designated Polavaram day—after the ambitious multi-purpose irrigation project that entails interlinking the unruly waters of the Godavari and the Krishna to bridge the water deficit in the latter’s river basin.

Mother of all land scams has blown in the face of KCR government in Telangana

The illegal deal is reported to have caused a loss of Rs 587 crore to the state exchequer.

Just a week after K Chandrasekhar Rao claimed no government land in Telangana had passed on to private hands, the chief minister is on the back foot. It has now come to light that Telangana Rashtra Samiti senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kesava Rao's family purchased 50 acres of land in Hafeezpur village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal near Hyderabad.

Drought-led migration makes girls prey to trafficking, pushes Andhra Pradesh's Kadiri towards HIV/AIDS

Dr Mano Ranjan has been working at the Institute of Infectious Diseases situated on the Anantapur-Kadiri Road in Andhra Pradesh since 2009. This is the premier institute for the entire Rayalaseema region (southern Andhra Pradesh) for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Dr Ranjan gets 25 new HIV/AIDS patients every day. "It is a ticking time bomb," he says.

Thirty percent of the cases are from hamlets in and around Kadiri, unarguably the HIV/AIDS capital of Andhra Pradesh. The hospital has 26,000 plus registered cases, 8,000 of whom are widows. It is shocking that most of the victims are in the age group of 25 to 40. Another 3,000 cases are children born most often to an HIV-positive parent.

Farmers in Telangana’s tur belt don’t know whether they should grow the pulse this year

Constant swing in prices of the dal and tardy implementation of the government’s procurement mechanism have made life tough for farmers. 

Husnabad and Kadangal are just 110 km from the cyber city of Hyderabad. In the last week of March, it was a beginning of a long dry spell, with temperatures hovering around the 40-degree Celsius mark. The Kharif season of 2016 had ended. The villages wore a lazy look. Given the perennial water scarcity in the region, most of the fields were dry. Nothing could be cultivated after the autumn harvest except for a few patches where summer paddy was visible, thanks to some irrigation from private bore wells.

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Reel Under Heatwave, But Petty Politics Takes Centrestage

As the mercury soared to a new 10-year record of 43 degrees Celsius in Hyderabad recently – a heatwave for the third consecutive year — the demand for spicy buttermilk or masala majiga too soared. This product of Heritage, a unit owned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, notched an all-time high business of nearly 12 lakh sachets being sold by 17 April. It also kicked off a political satire on social media that summer did not take note of bifurcation of state and that it did not differentiate between people of Telangana and Andhra.

The Indian dogs that are dying out because everyone wants a Labrado

It’s easy to identify what a German Shepherd, Labrador, and Saint Bernard have in common: they’re furry, adorable canine companions with massive fan bases all over the world. But what about the Chippiparai, Jonangi, and Kombai?

Even ardent animal lovers might stumble a bit here, but these too are dog breeds which have another thing in common—they’re all Indian. Skilled, sturdy, and well adapted to the country’s tropical climate, these dogs are great workers and excellent companions. Unfortunately, the other characteristic Indian breeds share is that they’re disappearing.

This Great-Grandmother From Andhra Pradesh Is One Of India's Most Popular YouTubers

She has over 2.5 lakh followers on YouTube. With a cotton sari as her uniform and an open paddy field as her kitchen, Mastanamma isn't your usual celebrity chef. 

Yet, the grey-haired great-grandmother from Andhra Pradesh has become an unlikely YouTube sensation thanks to her traditional cooking techniques.

Mastanamma is the star of a nine-month-old YouTube cooking channel called Country Foods, with over 2.5 lakh subscribers from within and outside India. Though she has no birth certificate to prove her age, Mastanamma says she is 106, which makes her possibly the oldest YouTube star in the world.

Telangana IPS officer in trouble? News report alleges serious abuse of power

Tension is brewing between a newspaper and an IPS officer from Telangana. This after the newspaper  claimed to have accessed a report that makes serious allegations against the police officer.

In a piece for The New Indian Express on Thursday, Vikram Sharma reported that an enquiry by the Telangana State Intelligence Department had made several charges against IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon, Director General, Special Protection Force.

Quoting the intelligence report, TNIE claims that Tejdeep was involved in misappropriation of funds meant for the Swachh Hyderabad programme and also harassed hundreds of Telangana SPF employees, including 32 posted at her house.

According to the report, these officers were allegedly used as "drivers, carpenters, cooks, attenders, gardeners and others."

The report also alleges that she showed favouritism to Andhra personnel, while also "deliberately delaying the process of distribution of SPF personnel between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by refusing to relieve AP-native personnel." 

Lastly, TNIE also reported that "a water tanker from the SPF academy, Ameenpur, makes 150 trips to Tejdeep’s residence every month and she was faking all bills."

Tejdeep was promoted to her present post in May last year. Before that, she had served as Additional Director General, (Sports), for the combined Andhra Pradesh Government.

She is known locally, for attempting to make the Ameenpur Panchayat, garbage-free, while also taking steps to clean the Ameenpur lake.

In a rejoinder to the TNIE report, Tejdeep issued the following statement: 

"The allegations about internal organizational and resource matters of what is a security organization coupled with imputed motives of working against the interests of the Telangana state are tenuous and baseless...It is apparent that the report was written and published only to tarnish my name and reputation. The reports are highly slanderous and intended to malign the work that the TSSPF and I are involved in...The report is per se defamatory as it is a deliberate attempt to needlessly, or at the behest of some, to project me in the darkest light possible and to scandalize me in public and tar my reputation."

The INNLive reached out and spoke to both, the TNIE reporter and the IPS officer in question. Both of them assured that they would revert shortly, but did not.

The copy will be updated if and when they respond. 

Will Indian Politicians Ever Stop Using Champion Athletes For Personal Glory?

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

Fights over Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu and Dipa Karmakar highlight the disturbing mentality of our political class.

It is said that history only remembers the winners. History may well be kind to victors, but there is one section of society which uses them like trending topics on Twitter or Google, shamelessly riding their popularity to draw attention to themselves.