Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in a bid to uphold his electoral promise of providing reservations in nominated posts, has taken a decision to give 50% quota in temple trust boards. The YSRCP government announced that there would be 50% quota for women as well as for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in fulfilling the nominated posts of temple trust boards in the state.
According to Government Order (GO) 394 that was released on Friday, in every Board of Trustees, there shall be 50% reservation out of the total number of nominated members (excluding ex-officio members), to the candidates belonging to SC, ST and Backward Classes (BCs).
The GO also stipulates there should be 50% quota for women including the women members nominated from SC, ST and BCs.
Jagan, in the run-up to the elections, had announced that he would ensure 50% reservation to the historically disadvantaged communities while filling up different nominated posts.
The was following amendment to the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Appointment of Trustees Rules, 1987.
This development comes days after the Andhra cabinet decided to increase the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) board's members, including the chairman, from 19 to 25.
The TTD board, presently headed by YV Subbareddy, is likely to see an increase in board members to 25 soon, as per the government's latest decision. Following the decision, the richest temple's trust board will have around 13 women and 13 candidates from SC, STs and BCs as members.
It remains to be seen how the decision of the government will go down with the Hindu religious organisations. Of late, the state's political landscape has been witnessing controversies over religious aspersions.