Telangana government makes local language mandatory for state recruitment
The Telangana government has declared that the knowledge of the local dialect i.e. Telugu is mandatory for qualifying state recruitment tests. This according to the government is both a tool to encourage local culture and a necessity. For this reason, questions about Telangana language in the syllabus for recruitment tests by the Telangana state public service commission (TSPSC) have been added.
In 1947, Telangana was included in the princely state of Hyderabad. The word 'Telangana' was used to distinguish the parts of Hyderabad where people spoke Telugu, from the ones where they didn't.
A 'Gentleman's agreement' was signed between the Andhra and Telangana leaders in 1956, wherein Andhra leaders promised to uphold Telangana's interests post the merger of their areas. Discontent over the lack of implementation of this agreement led to the 'Jai Telangana' movement in 1969. The agitators wanted reservation for Telangana people in the Telangana area and adequate distribution of resources.
A '6-point formula' was signed at the behest of the Central Government to appease the leaders from both the regions. The formula included abolition of the Telangana Regional Committee and establishment of a Central-University at Hyderabad to improve educational facilities. Other provisions included division of the state into 6 zones and three regions (Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana) for a proper division of jobs.
2 Central ministers from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) resigned from the UPA government, citing delay in formation of a separate Telangana state. The Left parties stood strong on their opposition to the creation of a new state. Previously in 1985, several Government employees from Telangana region accused the state of being biased over the promotion of officials from the region.
Centre announced the initiation of the process to form Telangana state. The decision came after the 11th day of the hunger strike undertaken by TRS president, KCR Rao, demanding a separate Telangana. The Union Government requested the CM to quash all the cases filed on or after 29 November 2009, against the leaders of the agitation.
President gave his assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill which initiates the creation of Telangana as India's 29th state. He also approved President's rule in the state. Andhra CM Kiran Kumar Reddy had resigned nine days before, in protest against the creation of Telangana. Elections to Telangana's state assembly will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.
TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the new state. 9 other cabinet ministers were sworn in on the occasion. Andhra Pradesh CM designate N Chandrababu Naidu gave a miss to the ceremony, fuelling rumours that all wasn't well between the two sides. Earlier, ESL Narasimhan was sworn in as the state's first governor.
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu launched 'Nav Nirman Deeksha' to mark the first anniversary of the division of the state. This week-long initiative would be held each year from June 2. Under the program, people are being made to take oath for their participation in the reconstruction and development of the state.
After the formation of the state of Telangana, a fresh resolution was required to resolve the Krishna water dispute between Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and now Telangana. Telangana first demanded that Andhra Pradesh share adequate water with them, and further accused Karnataka of constructing barrages to obstruct the flow of water. The issue is yet to be completely resolved.
The state of Telangana which was originally created with 10 districts, decided to add four more districts to the existing plan on reorganizing the region into 27 districts. Sircilla, Jangaon, Gadwal and Asifabad will be the new districts, taking the total to 31. CM K Chandrashekar Rao said a high level committee would be created to study the feasibility of creating the new districts.
