Telangana first state to conduct caste survey based on Rahul Gandhi's vision: Revanth Reddy

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said that Telangana is the first state to conduct a caste survey, inspired by the vision of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Responding to the Centre's decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census exercise, he said the caste survey conducted in the state last year was the first in independent India-the last such survey being in 1931, during British rule.

In a post on 'X', he said it was a proud moment that Rahul Gandhi's vision had become policy, despite the Congress being in the opposition.

"We are proud that the actions of the Telangana government for OBC empowerment have inspired the country, and that India has now agreed to follow the example set by our state," he said.


He claimed that the Congress government has proven the adage, "What Telangana does today, India follows tomorrow."

Congratulating the central government on its decision to conduct a caste census as part of the next national census, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Cabinet for the move.

Reddy said the comprehensive statewide Social, Economic, and Caste Survey conducted in Telangana revealed that 56.32 per cent of the population belongs to the Backward Castes.

Based on the caste survey report tabled in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, the state government has proposed 42 per cent reservation for OBCs in education, employment, and political representation, he said.

He also noted that the Telangana Congress had held a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, seeking that the central government agree to conduct a caste census.

In a significant development, the Centre on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be included in the forthcoming census exercise in a 'transparent' manner.

Announcing the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the census falls under the Centre's purview, but several states have carried out caste enumeration under the banner of surveys.

He alleged that opposition-ruled states conducted caste surveys for political purposes, and asserted that the Modi government was committed to undertaking the enumeration transparently as part of a pan-India census.

The national census, originally scheduled to begin in April 2020, was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said caste enumeration as part of the national census was "urgently needed" and that it had been a long-pending demand of many groups.

He said the need of the hour is "proper data on the backwardness of Muslims", including the "various castes/groups among Muslims."

"NSSO and other data clearly demonstrate that Muslims are economically, socially, and educationally backward. The BJP has opposed SC status for Dalit Muslims; it has also opposed reservations for backward Muslims," Owaisi said on 'X'.

Following the Centre's decision to include caste enumeration in the census, it is up to the BJP to be "intellectually honest," he said.

He added that the data must be collected transparently and made public.

Owaisi also thanked CM Revanth Reddy for his leadership in implementing the historic caste survey in Telangana.