HYDERABAD, February 10: Representatives of the Mali community met with Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday and urged for reinstatement of their status in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The delegation, led by state president Sukumar Patel and general secretary Shinde, presented their concerns and challenges faced by the community.
The leaders highlighted that, during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era, the Mali community was recognized under the ST category. However, following the formation of Telangana state, they were reclassified into the Backward Classes (BC) list. This reclassification, they argued, has led to socio-economic setbacks for the community. They appealed for the restoration of their original ST status to address these challenges.
Additionally, the delegation recalled that in 2008, under the leadership of then-Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Jyotiba Phule’s birth and death anniversaries were officially commemorated. They also lauded the recent renaming of Pragathi Bhavan to Mahatma Jyothirao Phule Praja Bhavan, viewing it as a positive step towards inclusive governance.
The community leaders further requested the establishment of a special corporation dedicated to the Mali community, with allocated funds to support their development. They also sought political representation in local body elections through ticket allocations and proposed the construction of a Mali Atmagaurava Bhavan (Self-Respect Building) in Hyderabad. The delegation emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues to uplift the Mali community in Telangana.
