Telangana Caste Survey Controversy: Methods, Results Clash
Hyderabad: The latest Telangana caste survey has sparked controversy even before its release, with opposition parties challenging the accuracy and methodology of the count of Backward Classes. This debate comes amid a similar exercise conducted a decade ago under a previous government.
Background of the Controversy
Telangana has undertaken two caste surveys—one in 2014 under Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and another in 2024 by the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. Both surveys aimed to enumerate the Backward Classes. However, the stark differences in the reported numbers have led to significant controversy.
The 2014 survey reportedly included 3.68 crore participants and pegged the Backward Classes share at 51 percent. In contrast, the 2024 survey found this share to be 46 percent, rising to 56 percent when Muslims were included as Backward Classes.
Context of the Surveys
The exercise was primarily commissioned to assess the socio-economic fabric of the state, echoing a pan-India initiative led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his slogan “jitni abadi utna hissedari” (equity in proportion to population).
The 2024 survey aligns with Rahul Gandhi’s promise during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which stated that “the government would conduct a caste survey and ensure political, employment, educational, and economic reservations.” However, the full reports of both surveys remain undisclosed by the respective governments.
Variance in Key Findings
The discrepancy in key findings between the two surveys has drawn significant attention. While the Backward Classes share was 51 percent in 2014, it was 46 percent in 2024, increasing to 56 percent with Muslims included. Other Categories or ‘forward castes,’ which were 21 percent in 2014, dropped to 13.3 percent in 2024, or 15.79 percent when Muslims were classified accordingly.
Controversial Discussion in Assembly
During the chief minister’s statement on the survey and caste-wise figures, BJP MLA Payal Shankar questioned the substantial decline in the Backward Classes population in Telangana. Shankar’s query in the assembly, “Do you mean to say we shunned the institution of marriage and stopped producing offspring?” captured significant attention.
Revanth and his ministers, such as Ponnam Prabhakar and Duddilla Sridhar Babu, challenged the legitimacy of the 2014 survey and the authenticity of the 2014 figures claimed by Shankar. However, K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), the BRS working president, acknowledged the figures from the SKS 2014 overview document available on the Marri Channa Reddy HRD Institute’s website.
Criticisms and Reactions
The 2014 survey was reportedly conducted on a single day with meticulous professionalism, involving 3.68 crore participants. KTR stated, “BCs were 1.85 crore in the then survey i.e., 51 percent of the population. Adding 10 percent Muslim BCs, the total BC figure was revealed as 61 percent.” KTR highlighted the drastic variance in the 2024 survey findings, suggesting a deliberate reduction in the BC ratio.
A roundtable conference organized by Backward Classes leaders also rejected the 2024 survey report, citing several discrepancies with the 2011 census and the 2014 survey. The participants pointed out how the state population supposedly expanded by only about two lakhs in a decade, questioning the surge and decline in population percentages.
Debate Over Accuracy
Former IAS officer and BC Intellectuals Forum convener T. Chiranjeevulu noted, “There are several glaring discrepancies in the 2024 survey findings, compared to the 2011 census and the 2014 survey. The Revanth government should rectify all these gaps and release the report.”
Despite the controversy, the Congress government insisted that their survey was conducted scientifically and meticulously, dismissing allegations of discrepancies. The 2024 survey, however, remains undisclosed, inviting further speculation and criticism.
Conclusion
The disagreement over the Telangana caste survey results underscores the complexity and sensitivity of caste enumeration exercises. As the official report remains undisclosed, questions about the methodology, execution, and accuracy of both surveys will persist.
This controversy not only highlights the ongoing issues within the state’s political landscape but also calls for transparency and accountability in government-administered surveys. The pulse of the state’s socio-economic fabric and the well-being of its diverse communities hinge on the authenticity and reliability of such critical data.
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