Committee to Identify and Honour Telangana Movement Activists Begins Its Work

Hyderabad — A government-appointed panel tasked with recognising contributors to the Telangana statehood movement convened for its inaugural session at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Saturday.

Dr. K. Keshava Rao, heading the committee, led discussions that brought together Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Government Whip Addanki Dayakar, MLC Prof. M. Kodandaram, former MLC S. Ramulu Naik and Mothe Shobhan Reddy. Senior government officials also participated in the proceedings.

The committee, established through G.O. Rt. No. 679 on May 15, examined its operational framework and discussed mechanisms for gathering information about activists involved in the movement.

During the meeting, the panel decided to organise an all-party consultation on June 4 to gather input from various political organisations.

Dr. Keshava Rao outlined that the government's aim is to identify and appropriately recognise all individuals—whether directly or indirectly—who contributed to Telangana's achievement of statehood. He directed officials to compile records of martyrs' families and activists from both phases of the movement.

The committee deliberated on qualification standards and procedures for developing a credible register of those eligible for recognition.

Minister Ponnam Prabhakar emphasised that the initiative would encompass activists from diverse communities. He noted that the scope would include those who endured imprisonment, faced legal proceedings and experienced other suffering throughout the struggle.

He further stated that the recognition process would extend to academics, creative professionals, authors, government employees, media practitioners, legal professionals, student activists, RTC staff and Singareni workers who participated in the movement.

Ponnam Prabhakar attributed the committee's formation to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's commitment to ensuring proper acknowledgment of the sacrifices and contributions made during the Telangana statehood struggle.

The committee determined that it would propose appropriate honours and recognition for individuals whose efforts significantly advanced the movement. The minister expressed confidence that the government would execute this initiative in a transparent manner, free from controversy.

Revenue Secretary Lokesh Kumar, Finance Special Secretary Sikta Patnaik, Home Department Principal Secretary Shikha Goel and additional senior officials were present at the session.