Caste survey pitch in Telangana grows louder as Andhra sets the ball rolling

“In both states, it is important to know the numbers of BC castes. It is not only for their welfare but also for deciding political representation,” R Krishnaiah, president of the National BC Welfare Association, told The Indian Express.

Krishnaiah is known as a leading BC voice in both the states: While he hails from Telangana ruled by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh has nominated him as a Rajya Sabha member.

“If we know the exact numbers of all the BCs, we can demand reservation accordingly in local elected bodies, government jobs, etc, in a scientific way. It is all the more important in mandal and zilla parishad territorial constituency elections, where candidates and sarpanchs are not chosen properly. Right now it is very disorganised. In both Telugu states, the BC population must be approximately 52%, but we do not know the exact numbers caste-wise, which is why we must conduct the caste census urgently. I have met President Droupadi Murmu too in this regard,” Krishnaiah said.

There are 139 BC castes in Andhra Pradesh and 134 in Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh BC caste survey is expected to be conducted region-wise, collecting data on profession, socioeconomic status and vulnerability.

“We want to conduct the BC caste census so they can be served better. Delivery of welfare schemes and various government services, financial assistance to individuals or families can be done more scientifically if we know the numbers and their vulnerability. The leaders of the 139 BC communities do not know the numerical strength of their own people. It is important to know their numbers for their appropriate representation in various fields including politics,” said Andhra Pradesh BC Minister C S Venugopala Krishna.

In Telangana too, the BC groups have been pressuring Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao or KCR to conduct a BC caste survey. “We have been demanding it for many years. It is important to find out the exact numbers of each BC community, identify the socially, economically and educationally backward and vulnerable communities and provide reservations based on their numbers,’’ said J Srinivas Goud, the Telangana BC Association president.

The BRS ministers belonging to the BC communities, including Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Gangula Kamlakar, declined to comment on the issue, citing the Model Code of Conduct which is in force in the state now.

In Andhra Pradesh, the 139 BC communities are classified in five groups: BC-A comprising aboriginal tribes, vimukti jatis, and nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes; the BC-B vocational groups; the BC-C Scheduled Caste (SC) converts to Christianity; other castes in BC-D; and the BC-E socially and educationally backward Muslim classes.

Andhra Pradesh BC Minister said that while the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government has committed to allocating Rs 15,000 crore per year towards BC welfare, it can direct resources to those communities which need them most if the population of each BC group is known. The government also wants to create infrastructure like BC residential schools and hostels based on the numerical strength of each community.

Prior to deciding on the BC caste survey, the Jagan government established 56 caste-based BC Corporations covering the 139 communities, and appointed chairpersons and directors for them.

In October 2021, the Telangana Assembly had adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to take up caste census of the BC groups.