Telangana Panel Sets Framework for Identifying Movement Participants

The committee constituted to recognise Telangana movement activists, chaired by Keshava Rao , convened its first meeting on Sunday and began laying down the broad framework for identification and categorisation of participants in the statehood struggle.

The meeting was attended by Minister Ponnam Prabhakar , MLCs Prof. Kodandaram and Addanki Dayakar , former MLC Ramulu Naik , Mothe Shobhan Reddy , and other members. The committee expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for setting up a formal mechanism to recognise the services of Telangana movement participants.

As part of its initial decisions, the panel identified a central office space at the Amaraveera Jyothi building , where it will coordinate its work. It also resolved to begin consultations with political parties in the coming days to gather suggestions on the recognition process, particularly concerning martyrs of the movement.

The committee plans to widen its consultation base by seeking inputs from a range of stakeholders, including the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) , representatives of the 1969 agitation , employees’ unions, artists’ groups, civil society organisations, caste associations, lawyers’ collectives, and district-level movement forums.

A major proposal discussed in the meeting is the classification of activists into four distinct categories . The first category includes those who lost their lives during the movement, followed by those who were injured. The third category covers individuals who were arrested, jailed, or faced legal cases, while the fourth category includes grassroots participants whose involvement may be verified through documentary evidence such as press reports and records.

The committee underlined that the recognition process will be designed to remain transparent and inclusive , noting that earlier systems had benefited only a limited number of people.

It also decided to include participants from earlier phases of the Telangana movement, including the 1969, 1972, and 1996 agitations , while incorporating wider feedback before finalising criteria.

Chairman Keshava Rao said that after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy returns from his Kerala visit, the committee will present its proposals for further guidance and final decisions.