Rajaka community stages protest in Visakhapatnam seeking SC status

Members of the Rajaka community gathered at the Gandhi statue near the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office in Visakhapatnam on Monday, demanding the inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Castes (SC) list and pressing the government to deliver on pre-poll assurances.

Protest led by state committee

The demonstration was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Rajaka SC Sadhana Core Committee. Protesters called on the State government to honour promises they said were made by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu before the elections, including steps toward securing SC status for the community in Andhra Pradesh.

The committee noted that the Rajaka community is already listed under the Scheduled Castes in 18 States and three Union Territories, and said parity in Andhra Pradesh was long overdue.

Key demands

Alongside the demand for SC inclusion, the committee outlined a set of welfare and livelihood measures to support the community. These included the constitution of a commission to examine SC inclusion for Rajakas, a pension beginning at 50 years of age, and a protection law to safeguard the community’s interests until inclusion is granted.

The protesters also sought 250 units of free electricity and ownership rights over tanks used in their traditional occupation. Financial support featured prominently in their charter: a budgetary allocation of ₹250 crore for the Rajaka Federation to facilitate subsidised loans; ₹50 crore for the construction of new dhobi ghats, repair of existing facilities, and protection of their sites; creation of dhobi posts in hospitals and the Police Department; and subsidised loans of ₹10 lakh for unemployed youth.

Participation and mobilisation

K. Satyanarayana, a member of the core committee, said the turnout reflected growing frustration within the community. “Around 500 people from the Rajaka community across Visakhapatnam district have participated in the protest. Core committee leaders from across Andhra Pradesh have come together to stage today’s protest. We have been fighting for our rights for decades now. Before every election, there are promises made but never fulfilled,” he said.

He added that the current phase of the agitation began in May. “We started our current protest in May, and so far we have organised nine roundtable meetings across Andhra Pradesh, including Eluru, Dachepalli, Chittoor, Anakapalli, Rajamahendravaram and Madanapalle. We would be continuing the agitation in other districts as well.”

What’s next

The core committee indicated that statewide mobilisation would continue until concrete steps are announced. Leaders said they plan to extend their campaign to additional districts in the coming weeks to build pressure for the formation of a commission on SC inclusion and for interim protections and welfare measures.

Significance

Monday’s protest in Visakhapatnam underscores the Rajaka community’s renewed push for SC status in Andhra Pradesh, coupled with specific demands aimed at improving livelihoods tied to their traditional occupation. With the committee signalling sustained agitation and pointing to recognition in other States and Union Territories, the issue is poised to remain a flashpoint unless the government initiates a formal response.