Hyderabad: As many as 700 representations were received by the one-man commission on SC categorisation, headed by Shameem Akhtar, in the last one month. Of these, 90% of the representations submitted by various sub-castes wanted sub-categorisation, while 10% of sub-castes were against sub-classification of SCs.
Various caste representatives and individuals explained their conditions and backwardness economically, socially, and educationally. The Akhtar commission, which started touring the districts last week, is interacting with people and planning to hold meetings with major communities of Scheduled Castes in the coming weeks.
The commission completed tour of Sangareddy, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts by Wednesday and will visit Khammam district on Thursday. The rest of the erstwhile districts will be covered in the coming weeks.
“The commission will meet various communities in the areas where they are located in large numbers. In Telangana, certain castes are in a particular location or district. Instead of calling them to Hyderabad, the commission wants to visit their places and see their conditions,” sources in the commission told TOI.
Official sources said various sub-castes, both in Malas and Madigas, including Kolupula, Mala Jangama, Madasi, Kurava, Chindu, Beda or Budaga Jangama, Baindla, Arundatiya, and Mitha Ayyalwar, met the one-man commission last week, saying their castes were the most backward among the SCs. Some caste leaders said although they were technically among SCs, they practised traditional occupations.
Term till Feb 2025
The Telangana govt appointed the one-man commission on Oct 11 to study and file a report on the sub-categorisation of SCs. Since consultations and public hearings are likely to take more time, including district tours, the govt is likely to extend the commission’s term until Feb 2025.
Akhtar said every representation would be examined and incorporated into the report. Sources said he is also getting information on various aspects of SCs from various govt departments.
In the first sub-classification of SCs, when Andhra Pradesh was united, done in the 1990s, Justice Ramachandra Raju Commission had divided SCs into A, B, C, and D categories. Madigas were put in the B category, and some castes such as Relli in the A category, most backward. Now, some castes such as Dakkali, Budaga Jangalu, Chindu, and Mochi, etc., are considered the most backward among Madigas, and Gosangi, Nethakani, Mala Dasari, and Pambala among Malas.
