Mumbai: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu speaks at the Andhra Pradesh Investors Summit at the Make In India week in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Source: PTI/File) Mumbai: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu speaks at the Andhra Pradesh Investors Summit at the Make In India week in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Source: PTI/File)

In a major announcement Friday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said his government may extend reservation benefits to the poor among upper castes in the state.

Speaking at the TDP’s three-day conclave ‘Mahanadu’, which started Friday in Tirupati, Naidu said the government will conduct a survey to assess poor families among the upper castes before taking a decision. “If there are economically backward people among the upper castes, we may extend reservation benefits to them. We will conduct a survey and find out,” Naidu said.

Moreover, he said backward classes were the backbone of the TDP since the party was founded and the government will spend Rs 8,600 crore under a special sub-plan towards their welfare.

Naidu said Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for the Kapu community, which is also demanding reservation. “We will extend reservation benefits to the Kapu community, too. A commission has been constituted to make the suggestions and recommendations. Even for Brahmins, the government is providing financial assistance and skill training for self-employment. There are poor people among the well-to-do castes and upper castes. We have to determine their economic status and give them benefits too, if necessary… we have to rededicate ourselves to the welfare of the people, who have put a lot of confidence in us and brought us to power,’’ Naidu said.

Naidu also said that the Centre is “yet to fully provide support to the state”.

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