Mahabubnagar MP DK Aruna has urged the Central Government to include the Boya Valmiki community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. She raised this demand during the Zero Hour in the second phase of the budget session in the Lok Sabha. She also requested the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs to take immediate action.
DK Aruna’s Speech in Parliament
DK Aruna made a strong impression in Parliament by speaking in Telugu. She highlighted the long-pending demand of the Boya Valmiki community, which is spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
She explained that the Boya Valmiki community has historically faced economic, educational, and social backwardness. In ancient times, they were hunters by occupation. However, today, they lack traditional livelihoods and struggle with extreme hardship and neglect.
Unequal Recognition Across States
The Boya Valmiki community is recognized as either Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) in some states, such as Karnataka. However, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, they are still categorized as Backward Classes (BC). Because of this, they miss out on important reservations and welfare benefits.
This disparity has affected over 5 lakh Boya Valmiki people in Telangana. The highest population of Boya Valmikis in the Telugu states is found in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
Telangana’s Efforts and Pending Approval
To address this issue, the Telangana government formed the Challappa Committee to study the socio-economic conditions of the Boya Valmikis. Based on its recommendations, the Telangana State Assembly passed a resolution supporting their inclusion in the ST list. This resolution was sent to the Central Government for approval.
MP DK Aruna reminded Parliament about this resolution and urged the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs to act quickly to grant the Boya Valmikis ST status.
A Call for Justice
DK Aruna emphasized that the Boya Valmikis are descendants of Maharishi Valmiki, the revered sage who wrote the Ramayana. She stated that recognizing them as STs is necessary for their empowerment and equality in a “New India.”
She strongly urged the Union Government to acknowledge the hardships faced by this community and take the necessary steps for their inclusion in the ST list.
Gratitude from the Community
After her speech in Parliament, leaders of the Jogulamba Gadwal District Valmiki Association expressed their gratitude to DK Aruna. Pacharlla Srinivasulu, a prominent community leader, thanked her on behalf of the Boya Valmiki people for bringing their concerns to national attention.
This move by DK Aruna has revived hope among the Boya Valmiki community, which has been fighting for this recognition for decades. Now, all eyes are on the Central Government to see how it will respond to this long-pending demand.
