The proposal to set up a Regional Council for Telangana was a major innovation. The development plans for other regions were supposed to be drawn up by state government. However, in the case of Telangana, this was to be done by the regional council. The Regional Council was to secure the all- round development of Telangana. It was to look into all the issues relating to planning and development, irrigation and industrial development within the general plan. It would also look in to recruitment to services in the Telangana region. It was also to control the sale of land in Telangana to people from outside the region.

The Agreement thus sought to ensure equitable expenditure of state resources and also ensuring educational and employment opportunities for the youth of Telangana.

In effect, the agreement recognized the distinct identity of Telangana within the new state of Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, it came to be known as “State within the State”.

  • Imagine yourself to be a member of the Telangana Regional Council. What special development activities would you have suggested? List three most important schemes which you would have proposed.
  • In what ways do you think employment opportunities for SCs, tribal and nomadic people of Telangana could have been ensured?
  • What would have been the best way to use the mineral resources of Telangana? Do you think the challenges faced by the farmers and labourers of Telangana were very different from those of the other regions? Discuss in the class.
  • Why do you think did the students play a leading role in demanding a separate state for Telangana?
1969 Agitation

Over a period of time, discontent over non-implementation of the Gentlemen’s Agreement was building up in Telangana areas: there were three main causes for this: discontent diversion of surplus revenue from Telangana to other regions of the state; discrimination in employment in government sector; and granting of domicile status to Coastal Andhra persons working in Telangana region in violation of the mulki rules. It began as a protest over some appointments and soon became a mass movement in which students of Osmania University played a key role. There were

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