The Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha has filed a complaint before the Commissioners of ST and SC Development Department and Revenue Department, claiming that the present Khariar Tehsildar in Nuapada district has got OAS by representing himself as a tribal although he belongs to Telenga caste of Andhra Pradesh.
Gopalswami Naidu, the present tehsildar, is the son of Samra Naidu - a resident of Radharanipara of Balangir district. The family has migrated from Andhra Pradesh and their original caste is Telenga, which comes under SEBC category in relation to the State of Odisha. But Naidu, by obtaining false caste certificate as Kondadora (ST), reaped the reservation benefits meant for the STs, the Mahasangha claimed.
The Mahasangha further stated that there is no tribe in the name of “Kondadora,” particularly in the districts of Balangir, Sonepur, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. In various Government records, the caste has been recorded as “Telenga” and the very sub-caste Telenga finds place in Sl.No.163 of Central list under OBC category and Sl.No.169 of State list of Odisha and SEBC category. Telenga community is also recognized as an OBC.
In accordance to the Appendix-II, of the list of Other Backward Class, (OBC), the very castes Telenga, Telaga Pamula, Telugu Kachara, Telugu communities find place in Sl.No.208 of Mandal Commission list. In the State of Madhya Pradesh also, the caste Telanga and Tilanga find place in SEBC category vide Sl No 66 published in gazette of MP part 1 dated 08.02.1985. “Above all, the Telenga community is most powerful in politics; their economic condition is very sound and strong. A major proportion of landed properties of the tribal of western Odisha has been grabbed by the Telenga community. The Telengas have their own established schools and colleges and in no way the Telengas are equal to the tribals of western Odisha,” the Mahasangha claimed.
The Mahasangha thus demanded cancellation of caste certificate wrongly issued to Naidu and his removal from service.