Done: arunHyderabad: Despite the claims of development, stark gaps in basic living conditions across communities in Telangana have come into sharp focus. An analysis by the Independent Experts Working Group (IEWG) of the state’s Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey-2024 paints a troubling picture of deprivation, particularly among Scheduled Tribes (STs), with significant sections still lacking toilets, electricity and tap water. The report underscores that living conditions are among the most visible and reliable indicators of social and economic backwardness, reflecting access to essential services and overall quality of life. Unlike income or employment, which can fluctuate, these conditions evolve over time and provide a more stable measure of development or deprivation. Sanitation remains a major concern. As per the findings, 32.5% of ST households do not have toilets, compared to 18.8% among Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10.8% among Backward Classes (BCs) and 4.5% among other castes (OCs). The absence of toilets, the report notes, is not merely an inconvenience but a serious public health and safety issue, particularly for women and the elderly, often leading to open defecation and increased exposure to disease and insecurity. Access to electricity, a fundamental requirement in modern life, also remains uneven. Around 11% of ST households do not have electricity connections, nearly double the state average of 5.8%. Among other groups, 8.3% of SCs, 4.7% of BCs and 2.7% of OCs lack electricity. The report highlights that households without electricity face severe limitations in education, healthcare access, communication and livelihoods, underlining persistent infrastructure gaps. 19% SCs have no waterSimilarly, access to tap water continues to lag despite official claims of universal coverage. IEWG found that 29.2% of ST households do not have tap water connections, along with 19% of SCs, 20% of BCs and 12.8% of OCs. The absence of in-house piped water not only affects health and hygiene but also places a disproportionate burden on women, who often bear the responsibility of water collection. Housing conditions further reflect deep inequalities. A majority of households, especially among marginalised groups, continue to live in cramped spaces. About 75% of STs and 73% of SCs reside in houses with fewer than two rooms, indicating overcrowding and lack of privacy. The figures stand at 63% for BCs and 47% for OCs. In contrast, only 17% of STs and 18% of SCs live in relatively comfortable homes with three or more rooms, compared to 28% of BCs and 42% of OCs. IEWG emphasised that these gaps in basic amenities highlight enduring disparities across caste groups in Telangana. Access to clean water, sanitation, electricity and adequate housing, it noted, remains central to ensuring a dignified standard of living and addressing long-standing inequalities.
