BC Welfare Minister S. Savitha addressing the media in Vijayawada on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT
Minister for Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections S. Savitha on Saturday said the BC Protection Act was being drafted and would be implemented soon to safeguard the wealth, dignity and lives of 138 BC communities.
Addressing the media after a meeting of the Group of Ministers on the draft BC Protection Bill here, Ms. Savitha said the proposed legislation envisaged stringent action against those who offend BCs in the name of caste or profession or attempt to socially ostracise them. She said the coalition government was fulfilling the assurances given to BC communities during the 2024 elections.
The Minister said the Bill was being drafted in a foolproof manner to ensure the safety of BCs and protection of their properties, with provisions for punishment covering 15 types of persecution.
She said Andhra Pradesh would become the first State to implement such a law for the welfare of BC communities. Opinions of BC MLAs, MLCs and BC associations from all five zones would be collected and placed before the Chief Minister before finalising the draft, she added.
Minister K. Atchannaidu said the legislation should be finalised only after detailed discussions so that it remained free from legal complications. Ministers Kollu Ravindra and Anagani Satya Prasad, and MLC Beeda Ravichandra Yadav were present at the meeting, while Ministers Vasamsetti Subhash, Kondapalli Srinivas and Y. Satya Kumar Yadav participated through video conference.
Government Secretary, BC Welfare, S. Satyanarayana explained the drafting process and said the views of the National BC Commission and the Attorney General of India had already been obtained.
Director of BC Welfare A. Mallikarjuna, Joint Secretary (Law) S. Venkateswara Rao and other officials took part in the deliberations.
Published – March 14, 2026 07:53 pm IST
