Aiming for social inclusion and data-driven policy-making, the Telangana government has issued orders for an extensive door-to-door household survey encompassing socio-economic, educational, employment, political, and caste details of every household across the state.
The decision, announced on October 11, 2024, marks a comprehensive approach to better understanding Telangana’s demographic and socio-economic fabric.
The initiative, detailed in a Government Order (GO) signed by Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, assigned the Planning Department as the nodal agency for this mammoth task. The government aims to complete the survey within 60 days, reflecting the urgency of gathering and utilizing this data for policy formulation.
The decision to conduct this survey was preceded by a resolution passed in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, supporting the comprehensive enumeration as decided by the Council of Ministers.
According to the government, the caste survey is not just about numbers but is poised to address the socio-economic disparities by planning and implementing opportunities specifically for Backward Classes (BCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other weaker sections of society.
The comprehensive nature of this survey signifies a shift towards policy-making based on real-time, on-ground data to address the long-standing demands for better representation, education, and employment opportunities based on caste demographics.
Parallel to this, the government has also set up a one-man Commission of Inquiry headed by Dr. Justice Shameem Akhter, a former judge of the Telangana High Court, to delve into the sub-categorization within SC reserved categories. This commission’s formation follows a recommendation from a committee led by Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, addressing the complexities of implementing the Supreme Court’s directives on SC sub-categorization.