During the winter session of the Parliament in 2019, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju K. the MP met Thawar Chand Gehlot the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India and requested him to include ‘Turupu Kapus’ into the OBC List so that the members of that community can benefit in central government’s educational institutions and employment.
The MP Raghu Ramakrishna Raju K. informed the minister the need to remove district restrictions for the community and extend benefits throughout the state of Andhra Pradesh in respect of Turupu Kapus, also known as Gajulakapus. He wanted Turupu Kapu caste to be included in the OBC list to get the benefits of reservation. In a letter to the minister, he mentioned that “There is Turpu Kapu community, who are agriculture labours Jattu Hamalli, iron workers and domestic servants etc and were natives of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh. Since the community is poor and are living on canal bunds under thatched huts. For better livelihood, they have migrated to other ten districts of Andhra Pradesh.
“The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued Backward class – D Certificated and recognized them as backward class in the state. Due to migration to other ten districts the benefit OBC reservation is now limited to the community living in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh. On the basis of representation by the Turpu kapu community the state of Andhra Pradesh appointed Ananta Raman Commission for trial and enquiries in the matter of issuance of OBC certificate to Turpu Kapus residing in Andhra Pradesh.
“The findings of the Ananta Raman Commission also took into consideration the writ petition no 1079 of 1999 incorporating the verdict from High Court of Andhra Pradesh The contents of which are as a under: ‘Because a person born in particular community retains his caste, irrespective of his place of residence, a person does not lose his caste, merely because he migrated from one place to another and also from W.P. No. 14003 of 1999 which convey verdict from High Court of Andhra Pradesh. ‘The fact remains that a person born in particular community will carry till his death’.”
Turpu kapu Sankshema Sangam is also fighting for their inclusion into the OBC list. Turpu Kapu is a sub-caste of Kapu caste. Turupu Kapu or Turpu Kapu community is spread all over the coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju is an MP from Narsapuram Lok Sabha constituency representing YSR Congress Party in the 17th Lok Sabha.
