Caste census will be over by November 30: Ponguleti

Hyderabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the state government was on track to complete the ongoing caste census by November 30. Speaking at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday, the minister stated significant progress was made in the survey, which began on November 6, with 65.02 per cent of households covered as of November 18, Monday.

“Out of the total 1,16,14,349 households in the state, data collection has been completed for 75,75,647 households. The digitisation of the survey data has commenced and is expected to be completed within a month,” the minister noted.

While Mulugu district topped the state with 95.3 per cent survey completion, it is followed by Nalgonda at 89.1 per cent. Hyderabad (GHMC area) stood at the bottom with just 44.3 per cent completion. Out of 25,05,517 households under the GHMC limits, the survey has been completed only in 11,10,883 households.

Responding to allegations from BRS leaders, Srinivas Reddy accused them of spreading “falsehoods” about the caste census. He clarified that the survey aims to assess the socio-economic conditions and political representation of various castes and religions at the grassroots level, ensuring that government welfare schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries.

"No one will lose their rightful benefits because of this survey. People should not believe the Goebbels-like propaganda of the Opposition," he remarked. The minister highlighted that the caste census will create a database on the living standards of different social groups, enabling more effective delivery of government services.

Srinivas Reddy accused the previous BRS government of mishandling the 2014 Samagra Kutumba Survey, claiming that the data from that initiative was deliberately kept hidden. “Even we, in the government, cannot locate the data from that survey. Their intention was not public welfare but to misuse resources,” he alleged.

The minister commended BRS leader Kalvakuntla Kavita for registering her details in the ongoing caste census and urged other BRS leaders to follow her example. Srinivas Reddy urged citizens to participate in the survey, assuring them that it would lead to the launch of inclusive and beneficial schemes for all sections of society.