VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the state assembly to give 5% reservation in education and employment to the Kapu community.Minister for BC welfare and transport, K Atchannaidu, introduced the Bill. The government had proposed 5% reservation to the Kapu, Ontari, Balija and Telaga sub-castes. With the Centre giving 10% reservation to the economically weaker sections (EWS), the state has allotted half of that to the Kapus and its sub-castes in education and employment, said the minister while tabling the Bill.He said, “There is every need to provide 5% reservation to the EWS in Kapu, Telaga, Balija and Ontari castes that are not covered under the existing Constitutional scheme of reservation and another 5% reservation to other EWS citizens who are not covered under the existing Constitutional scheme of reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Socially and Educationally Backward Class citizens in the admission to the educational institutions whether aided or unaided, other than minority educational institutions, and in the appointments in the civil posts and services under the State government.”Kapus have long demanded reservation in education and employment. The movement has intensified over the past three years, with former AP minister Mudragada Padmanabham at its helm. The TDP had promised inclusion of the Kapus in the BC list in its 2014 election manifesto.

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