BCs form largest group in T, reveals survey

Hyderabad: The Backward classes (BC) constitute 46.25% (categories A, B, C and D) or approximately 1.64 crore of the over 3.5 crore population in Telangana, making them the largest group, according to the recent caste survey done across the state.
Also, BCs among the minorities (category E) make up an additional 10.08% (35.76 lakh), taking the total BC population in the state to 56.33%. Telangana provides reservations to backward communities among Muslims in the BC-E category.
Giving details of the survey at a press conference on Sunday, irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is the chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on socio-economic, employment, political and caste survey, said a special assembly session would be held on Feb 4 to discuss the report. He stated that 3,54,77,554 (3.5 crore) people from 1.12 crore households participated in the survey. About 3.1% population did not participate in the survey for various reasons and survey compilation excludes them.
After the BCs, the Scheduled Castes (SC) population is the second largest group at 17.43% (61.84 lakh), followed by the Scheduled Tribes (ST) at 10.45% (37.59 lakh). Forward Castes (excluding Forward Castes among minorities) constitute 13.31%. The total population of the Other Castes (OC) is 15.79%, after including 2.38% of the OC population (8.8 lakh) from the minority community, bringing the total OC population to 56.01 lakh.
After the planning department submitted the initial report of the caste survey, Reddy stated, "This is an unprecedented and accurate survey that has taken place in the country. The survey was conducted after studying models from Bihar and Karnataka, but Telangana's survey has surpassed them in terms of coverage and 96.9% population participating in it. We are committed to the cabinet resolution passed on Feb 4, 2024."
Uttam Kumar announced that the survey report and its analysis would provide data-driven solutions for welfare measures.
BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar said, "We thank the people of Telangana for participating in the survey despite unnecessary fears created by some. We will implement measures to assist the marginalised. In the past, even though the BRS govt conducted a survey, the details were not revealed."