Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Tuesday that the Congress government was committed to social justice and had decided to conduct a caste census from November 6 to ensure social justice for all castes.
Speaking at the state-level consultative meeting on caste census held at the Gandhi Ideology Centre in Bowenpally, Revanth Reddy highlighted the importance of such a census in assessing and addressing the socio-economic, educational, and employment conditions of all castes in the state.
"Conducting a caste census is our responsibility. This survey will help the government gather essential data on the social, economic, political, educational, and employment status of every caste," Revanth Reddy stated. He said that this initiative would reflect the Congress government's dedication to social justice.
The meeting saw unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Revanth Reddy calling for a national caste census to be conducted alongside the Census. Revanth Reddy expressed strong support, stating: "We urge the Centre to conduct a caste census on a national scale. The data from this survey will be vital in addressing disparities and promoting equality across communities," he said.
Revanth Reddy cited the recent Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) Group-1 prelims exam as an example of the state’s commitment to fair representation.
The Congress government, he said, has ensured that the selection of candidates for the Mains exam included a larger number of candidates from Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In this year’s examination, 31,383 candidates were selected for the Mains stage. Of this, 17,921 candidates (57.11 per cent) were OBC candidates, 4,828 (15.3 per cent) were SC candidates, 2,783 candidates (8.8 per cent) were ST candidates, 3,076 candidates (9.8 per cent) were OC candidates and 2,774 candidates (8.8 per cent) were EWS candidates.
"This is the proof of our sincerity. We have selected candidates from all sections of society at a ratio of 1:50 for each Group-1 post," Revanth Reddy said, highlighting his government’s dedication to uplifting marginalised groups.
He praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his role in championing the caste census initiative, crediting him with advancing the idea of social responsibility and equitable opportunity.
"Rahul Gandhi has come here to take suggestions from civil society on how to conduct a caste census. It takes courage to make such a decision," he remarked, adding that Rahul Gandhi’s vision is "to show action, not words."
The Chief Minister said that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, in which he promised to push for a caste census nationwide, played a role in the Telangana government’s decision to initiate its own caste census from November 6. "Our duty is to fulfil the promises made by Rahul Gandhi," Revanth Gandhi said. "He has taken a step forward to ensure education, healthcare, employment, and social justice for the people of this country."
Revanth Reddy further vowed that, upon the completion of the caste census, the Telangana government would work to ensure appropriate reservations for BCs, affirming his administration's dedication to addressing social inequality. “After completing the caste census, we will provide BCs with their due reservations. We are making a resolution on this platform to incorporate the caste census into the national census in 2025.”
