Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy urged the central government to adopt the Telangana model for conducting a nationwide caste census. He proposed a structured approach that begins with forming a group of ministers and an experts’ committee to understand the unique caste composition of each state.
The Chief Minister’s comments came a day after the Centre announced plans to include a caste count alongside the upcoming population census. Reddy emphasized that before launching such a major effort, the Centre should first consult with state governments and other key stakeholders.
He suggested that a team of ministers should travel across the country, gather input from different states, and build consensus. After that, a national committee of experts and officials should be created to design the structure and scope of the caste census.
Reddy explained how Telangana successfully implemented its own caste census. The state first formed a group of ministers who met with political parties, caste-based organizations, and civil society groups in every district. This helped them understand the ground realities before designing the survey.
Using these consultations, the state prepared a list of 57 detailed questions aimed at collecting accurate caste data from households. The survey divided the state into 95,000 units, with one enumerator assigned to each unit. Each enumerator visited around 150 homes, and every group of ten enumerators had a supervisor to oversee the work.
This extensive survey lasted 60 days and covered 96% of the population. For the remaining 4% who were missed, the government set up a toll-free number so that families could provide their data voluntarily.
“We created a caste data policy without any legal issues, political disputes, or controversies,” said Reddy. “Our model is transparent and inclusive. It can serve as a guide for the entire country.”
He invited the Centre to send its expert team to Telangana to study the model in detail. The state government, he assured, would extend full support.
Reddy also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clearly announce the timeline for starting and completing the caste census. He warned that simply counting castes without deep analysis would not help in making real policy changes.
To make the data meaningful, Telangana has already formed its own expert panel. This committee is analyzing the caste data to recommend fair policies in education, employment, and other areas.
Reddy also thanked Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for pushing the caste census idea. He recalled how, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, people demanded a caste count, and Gandhi promised action if Congress came to power.
“Within 15 months of forming the government in Telangana, we delivered on that promise,” said Reddy. “We’ve done something no one attempted in over 100 years. Telangana’s approach is a model for the nation.”
He also reminded that the Telangana State Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to conduct a national caste census.
On the national front, Congress and other non-NDA parties protested at Jantar Mantar, demanding immediate action. Reddy believes that such pressure forced the Modi government to act.
However, he insisted this was not about scoring political points. “Our focus is on building a fair and inclusive society,” he said.
