HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has announced that Banjara community employees will be granted a special casual leave on February 15, 2025, in observance of Sevalal Maharaj’s birth anniversary. Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari issued directives stating that this leave applies to Banjara employees across all government departments.
Sevalal Maharaj is revered as a deity by the Banjara tribal community. In previous years, during the tenure of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, his birth anniversary was declared a public holiday. Currently, several tribal associations across the state have submitted petitions to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, requesting that the day be recognized as a public holiday.
However, instead of declaring a public holiday, the government has opted to grant special casual leave exclusively to Banjara employees. This decision has elicited criticism from tribal associations, who express dissatisfaction with the move, arguing that it falls short of their expectations for broader recognition.
The associations are advocating for Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti to be acknowledged as a public holiday, allowing all citizens to participate in the celebrations and honour the legacy of Sevalal Maharaj. They plan to continue their efforts to achieve this recognition in the future.
