Backward Classes make up 56.33% of Telangana’s population, including Muslims: Survey

Telangana's recent Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste survey, released on Sunday, reveals that Backward Classes (BC) constitute 56.33% of the state’s population, amounting to 1,99,85,767 people, which includes 35,76,588 BC Muslims.

Scheduled Castes (SC) make up 17.43%, while Scheduled Tribes (ST) account for 10.45%, with Other Castes (OC) forming 15.79% of the population. The total Muslim population stands at 12.56%, with BC Muslims comprising 10.08% and OC Muslims 2.48, The Indian Express reported.

The survey, covering 3,54,77,554 individuals and 96.9% of households across Telangana, was conducted over a span of 50 days by deploying over 1,00,000 enumerators and supervisors, with the data entry process completed within 36 days by 76,000 operators.

The survey, spearheaded by the state's planning department, was initiated after a resolution passed in the Assembly in February 2024. It aims to refine welfare schemes, improve job opportunities, and uplift the weaker sections of society, with the findings expected to inform future governance decisions.

The caste survey is a key promise from the Congress party's 2023 election manifesto, which helped them secure a victory against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the Assembly elections.

Despite operational challenges, including issues with locked houses, hesitant families, and misclassified households, the survey was deemed a success. State ministers praised the smooth and efficient process, particularly when compared to similar surveys in other states like Bihar.

The results will be presented to the Cabinet on February 4, followed by a brief discussion in the Assembly, marking a significant step towards data-driven governance in Telangana. This milestone is seen as a foundation for welfare policies tailored to real-time socio-economic data, fulfilling a key commitment made during the 2023 elections by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.