The Telangana government has successfully completed its largest-ever caste-based socio-economic survey, covering 96.9% of households in just 50 days. The survey, officially named the Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste (SEEEPC) survey, was launched on November 9, 2024, and its final report will be presented to the state Cabinet and Assembly on February 4, 2025. This ambitious project, led by the Planning Department with the support of 94,863 enumerators and 9,628 supervisors, collected crucial demographic data to ensure better policy formulation for marginalized communities. The survey results indicate that Backward Classes (BCs) make up 46.25% of the population, Scheduled Castes (SCs) 17.43%, Scheduled Tribes (STs) 10.45%, and the total Muslim population stands at 12.56%. The data is expected to serve as a foundation for restructuring welfare programs and ensuring equitable resource distribution across Telangana.
Despite facing multiple challenges, including misinformation campaigns, legal battles, and operational hurdles, the survey was completed efficiently through rigorous planning and high-level monitoring. State officials revealed that 1.03 lakh houses were locked during the survey period, 1.68 lakh families initially hesitated to participate, and over 84,000 houses were misclassified due to non-residential use. However, through continuous awareness campaigns, government field visits, and legal victories against PILs filed to halt the survey, Telangana successfully gathered and digitized the data within 36 days. The state government highlighted that, unlike Bihar’s caste survey, which took six months and cost ₹500 crore, Telangana’s data collection was completed in just 50 days with a significantly lower budget. The Centre for Good Governance played a key role in developing the digital infrastructure, ensuring a smooth and efficient execution of the survey.
The report will be presented before the state Cabinet at 10 AM on February 4, followed by discussions in the Assembly. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and other senior ministers, including Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Damodar Raja Narasimha, and D Seethakka, have hailed the survey as a landmark achievement for Telangana. The initiative, inspired by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s vision of social justice, is expected to set a precedent for other states looking to adopt data-driven governance. The findings will now be used to refine Telangana’s welfare programs, improve job opportunities, and create a more equitable distribution of resources. The state government believes that this comprehensive dataset will not only transform policymaking but also serve as a model for India in achieving inclusive growth and social justice.
