Hyderabad: An Independent Expert Working Group (IEWG), which undertook a comprehensive analysis of Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey 2024, has said 135 castes (of 242 castes) in the state are considered more backward than the average caste in Telangana as their composite backwardness index (CBI) score is more than 81. Of the 135 castes, which account for 67% of the state population, 69 are Backward Classes (BCs), 41 Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 25 Scheduled Tribes (STs). The govt also released caste-wise population within the social groups.To assess the socio-economic status of all castes in Telangana using 42 parameters of sociological and statistical importance, the concept of CBI was developed. It offers a systematic approach to quantifying and understanding the extent of relative backwardness across castes.Telangana govt had conducted SEEEPC survey from Nov 2024 and completed it in Feb 25, and constituted the working group led by former Supreme Court judge B Sudarshan Reddy to analyse it and submit a report. The state, which released the caste-wise population on Wednesday night, released the reports on castes, their living conditions, castes that are availing schemes and other parameters based on the survey.The group, in its observation, said there were castes within the broader groups in BCs, SCs and STs, which were better than other castes in the same social groups.The report also mentioned how the social groups — BCs, SCs and STs and OCs — benefit from 11 major govt welfare schemes — include Rythu Bharosa, free bus travel and free power etc — relative to their share in the population.“For example, SCs form only 14% of the share of Rythu Bharosa beneficiaries, while they make up 18.2% of the total population of 135 most backward castes, making them less benefitted in relation to their population share. Across most schemes, STs, whose CBI score is high at 95, significantly benefit more, especially in schemes like Rythu Bharosa, Rythu Bhima, free power for agriculture and govt housing schemes, reflecting their high economic vulnerability and dependence on agricultural and state support,” it said.But for Cheyutha pensions, where STs benefit less compared to their share of population, free bus travel for women and subsidised LPG cylinders were also notable schemes where the groups benefit more, it said.“SCs, whose CBI score is highest at 96, also generally benefit more in schemes such as free housing and free bus travel for women, suggesting targeted welfare access. However, in agricultural-linked incentive schemes like Rythu Bharosa and free power for agriculture, SCs are under-represented, likely due to lower land ownership patterns among them,” the report added.“On the other hand, general castes (OCs), whose CBI score is least at 31 and are least backward among all social groups, have a smaller share of beneficiaries in almost all welfare schemes except for Rythu Bharosa and free power for agriculture, where their historical landholding advantage gives them access,” it said.“BCs, whose CBI score is 86, show mixed patterns. While they benefit more from Cheyutha pensions and Kalyana Lakshmi, they are slightly under-represented in critical schemes like Rythu Bharosa and free electricity for agriculture, indicating possible gaps in agricultural asset ownership within this group,” the report added.GFX:The govt had earlier announced that, of the 3.54 crore population in the state, SCs constitute 61,84,319 (17.43%), ST population 37,05,929 (17%) and BCs other than Muslim minority 1,64,09,179 (46.25%). The Muslim minority, those who come under BC group, are 35,76,588, which is about 10%, and the OCs in Muslims, people who constitute general in Muslims, are 8,80,424 people, constituting about 2.48%. That means Muslim minority population is 12.56% and the OC population is 47,21,115, which comes to about 13.31%.
