It is as if a curtain has been lifted with the publication of the Telangana Social, Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste Survey and its analysis by an independent panel of experts. Two aspects stand out at first glance. Poverty is not merely economic in nature – caste makes it worse. And despite lofty claims of development, given the state’s high per capita income, the truth is that large parts are caught in a financial and caste maelstrom.
The survey used a composite backwardness index comprising 42 parameters including social discrimination, housing and gender equality to arrive at an accurate picture. However, opposition parties termed the survey as fraudulent, highlighting some discrepancies such as population change. However, even after taking into account the margin of error, the report holds an insight for Telangana. And it’s an image that touches your heart.
The discourse may focus on the backward classes, which constitute 56.36 per cent of the population, and a proposed increase in their reservations to 42 per cent. But the devil is in the details. Out of 242 castes, up to 135 are found backward. However, 30 percent of welfare recipients are not among the most disadvantaged classes. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members are three times more backward than those from general castes. Among KD members, about half are daily wagers, while a third of ST members live in homes with no taps or toilets. The survey found that a poor SC family fares much worse than a poor general caste family, highlighting that caste makes the life of the poor an even more painful agony.
