(The Hindu)
The Telangana Backward Classes (BC) Commission has initiated a series of consultations with subject experts regarding the socio-economic caste survey to be conducted across the State. The Commission has been tasked with formulating a detailed action plan, including methodology, modalities, questionnaires, and addressing other pertinent issues.
A delegation from people’s committee on caste census met BC Commission chairman Vakulabharanam Krishna Mohan Rao, member secretary B. Bala Maya Devi, and Commission members Ch. Upendra, Shubhpradh Patel Nooli, and K. Kishor Goud at the State BC Commission office on Monday.
The brainstorming session included discussions with sociologists, community leaders, public associations, and NGOs. The experts shared their insights on conducting a comprehensive socio-economic, educational, and political survey, drawing from recent caste surveys in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka. They also addressed potential legal and technical challenges, and strategies to overcome them.
Mr. Krishna Mohan Rao opened the session with an overview of various technologies, tools, methods, software, processes, procedures, case studies, and operations. He highlighted key reports, including the SECC-2011, Tamil Nadu’s Ambha Shankar, Sattenathan, Justice Janardhanam, and Karnataka’s H. Kantha Raja Commission reports. He provided a detailed explanation of the survey methodologies and outlined the roadmap for Telangana’s caste survey.
The discussions also involved institutes like ASCI, CESS, CGG, CSD, and the Bureau of Economics and Statistics department. The work completed by the BC Commission so far was presented in handouts, earning appreciation for the chairman’s dedication and innovative approach.
The commission plans to invite representatives from community associations, community leaders, NGOs, social scientists, anthropologists, and linguistic experts to provide further advice and suggestions, both orally and in writing.