Committed to using caste survey findings for social good: Telangana CM

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday asserted that his government was committed to using the findings of the latest caste survey conducted across the state to extend benefits to the backward classes in politics, education and employment.

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday asserted that his government was committed to using the findings of the latest caste survey conducted across the state to extend benefits to the backward classes in politics, education and employment.

The chief minister made the statement in the state assembly, which was specially convened to discuss the socioeconomic, political, educational, employment, and caste survey conducted by the state government between November 6, 2024 and December 25, 2024.

Expressing doubts over the findings, the Opposition accused the government of conducting the survey in a hurried manner and said the data was fabricated. They also demanded the government conduct a fresh survey.

Refuting the claims, the government said the survey was carried out scientifically and it was a laborious process involving 103,000 government employees, each covering 150 households, with each team being monitored by a supervisor.

After a heated debate in the House, the assembly adopted a resolution in support of the survey. It also passed a resolution urging that the Union government conduct a similar comprehensive survey across the country to enumerate various castes.

Before Telangana, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have conducted caste surveys.

Speaking after presenting the report in the assembly, the chief minister said the caste survey was conducted in the wake of demands from the historically marginalised other backward classes (OBCs) that they should be enumerated.

“For any policy to come into effect, there should be data to support it. The data from the caste survey will be used to bring socio-political changes in the state,” Revanth Reddy said.