Caste Survey Begins in Telangana, Third in India

Telangana becomes the third state to initiate a caste-based headcount, following Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The Telangana government has initiated the process of a comprehensive household caste survey in the state aimed at targeted and equitable resource distribution among all communities.

Details

Purpose of the survey

• The caste survey aims to promote targeted and equitable resource distribution among all communities, ensuring justice for weaker sections like OBCs, SCs, STs, and other marginalized groups.

Government’s commitment

• The caste survey was a key promise made by the ruling Congress party during the assembly election campaign.

Chief Secretary orders

• Telangana’s Chief Secretary, Santhi Kumari, issued orders for a door-to-door survey to be completed within 60 days. The Planning Department will oversee the process as the nodal department.

Socio-economic opportunities

• The survey is intended to improve access to socio-economic, educational, employment, and political opportunities for backward classes and marginalized sections.

Sub-classification of SCs

• A separate order from the Telangana SC Development Department calls for the creation of a six-member commission to study the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs), focusing on equitable distribution of reservation benefits.

Empirical research

• The commission will conduct scientific studies to examine socio-economic, political, and educational backwardness among SC sub-groups, aiming to improve representation in public services and educational institutions.

Bihar’s precedent

• Telangana follows Bihar, which completed the first successful caste survey in independent India.
• Bihar’s data showed OBCs forming 63.13%, SCs 19.65%, and STs 1.68% of the population.

Commission’s mandate

• The Telangana commission will submit its findings within 60 days, addressing how to effectively implement sub-classification within the SC community, based on the Supreme Court’s directive.

Andhra Pradesh’s initiative

• Earlier this year, Andhra Pradesh also launched a caste survey aimed at building a comprehensive database of its population based on caste.

Survey as a tool for welfare 

• Telangana’s caste survey is expected to guide future government programs aimed at reducing inequalities and ensuring equitable growth across all sections of society.

Significance of Caste Census

• To Address Social Inequality
• To Ensure Equitable Distribution of Resources
• To Monitor the Effectiveness of Affirmative Action Policies
• To Provide a Comprehensive Picture of Indian Society

What is Caste Census and Caste Survey?

Census

• Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data of all persons in a country at a specific period of time.
• Census in India is conducted at regular intervals of 10 years.
• Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes.
• Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. Hence there have been demands for Socio-economic caste census to be conducted for 2021.

Caste Census

• Caste census or more precisely Socio Economic caste census was conducted for the first time in Independent India in 2011.
• However the findings were never made public.
• The last published data for all castes was done in the 1931 census.

Caste Survey

• Since only the Union govt has the power to conduct a census, several state governments like Bihar have been conducting socio economic caste surveys to ascertain the social and economic status of different castes for better policy making.
• The latest released Bihar caste survey is the latest example of it.

 

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Telangana becomes the third state to initiate a caste-based headcount, following Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
Objective	Promote equitable resource distribution Ensure justice for OBCs, SCs, STs, and marginalized groups
Commitment	Promise made by the ruling Congress party during the assembly election campaign
Survey Process	Door-to-door survey to be completed within 60 days Managed by the Planning Department
Focus Areas	Improve socio-economic, educational, employment, and political opportunities for backward classes
Sub-classification of SCs	Commission to study the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) Study to improve representation in public services and educational institutions