Suryapet/Huzurnagar: Telangana has emerged as a national role model in the implementation of caste census and targeted social justice, said Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday.
Speaking at a series of public meetings and reviews in Kodad and Huzurnagar constituencies, the Minister declared that the Congress government’s successful execution of the caste census in Telangana not only laid the foundation for data-driven welfare but also compelled the BJP-led Central Government to accept Rahul Gandhi’s long-standing demand for a national caste census.
Addressing a gathering during the inauguration of a statue of freedom fighter Vadde Obanna in Kodad, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “What we began in Telangana has now pushed the Central government into action. The successful, scientific and transparent completion of the caste census here forced the Centre to bow to the pressure created by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.” He added that the Telangana model is proof that with political will, social justice can be translated from vision into reality.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that the caste census was not a routine government exercise, but a transformative political commitment rooted in Rahul Gandhi’s belief that policies must be built on data, not assumptions. “Rahul Gandhi’s consistent call for a caste census stems from a simple yet powerful idea – you cannot uplift the poor if you do not know who they are and how many they are,” he said.
Telangana became the first state to act on this vision after the Congress assumed power in December 2023. A cabinet sub-committee was formed under the leadership of Uttam Kumar Reddy himself, and a state-wide enumeration was launched, covering every household and digitally capturing caste and socio-economic details in real-time.
The entire process was flawlessly executed, with no technical glitches, public opposition, or legal hurdles at any stage – before, during, or after. “We achieved what many thought was impossible. The data collection was transparent, geo-tagged, and fully accountable,” he said, adding that this was one of the most significant administrative achievements in the history of Telangana.
Once the data was compiled, the Congress government moved swiftly to convert it into policy. The report was tabled before the Cabinet, discussed in the Legislative Assembly, and a historic law was passed to provide 42% reservations to Backward Classes in government employment and educational institutions. The law was approved by the Governor and forwarded to the President for final assent.
“This is not symbolic politics. This is structural reform. For the first time, backward communities in Telangana will receive representation based on their real numbers,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy, noting that this level of alignment between data, legislation and governance had never before been achieved in any Indian state.
At the statue unveiling ceremony of freedom fighter Vadde Obanna, the Minister drew a powerful link between the past and present. “Obanna fought for India’s independence alongside Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. Today, we fight for the socio-economic independence of marginalised communities,” he said. “This statue is not just a tribute to a revolutionary – it is a call to action for present and future generations.”
He added that the Congress government is fully committed to the upliftment of the Vaddera community and recognised their historic role in Telangana’s development.
During his visit to Huzurnagar, the Minister distributed Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak cheques worth ₹2.30 crore to 231 beneficiaries and announced new educational, housing and employment initiatives. “Interest-free loans for women, advanced training centres for youth, new buildings for junior and degree colleges – these are not announcements; these are realities on the ground,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Minister held a review meeting with irrigation officials at Kodad, where Kodad MLA Uttam Padmavathi, District Collector Teja Nandlal Pawar, and Chief Engineer Ramesh Babu were present.
To ensure agricultural prosperity, the Minister announced that 10 TMC of floodwater would be diverted from Kuneru to the Paleru reservoir, followed by a new lift irrigation scheme to supply water to Mothe mandal in Kodad constituency. “Tail-end lands that have waited for water for decades will finally receive it,” he said.
He also directed that the 2,000 newly constructed houses at Ramaswamy Gutta in Huzurnagar town be allotted transparently to eligible local beneficiaries and announced a ₹5 lakh housing grant for poor families in rural mandals.
Calling the launch of free fine rice distribution on Ugadi a “historic moment,” the Minister said it would benefit 84% of Telangana’s population – an unmatched welfare initiative in the country. “This is what real governance looks like – measurable impact, mass coverage, and human dignity,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Telangana’s achievements, particularly in completing the caste census and implementing data-backed reservations, offer a blueprint for national governance. “Rahul Gandhi showed the way. Telangana walked the path. Now, the rest of India must follow,” he said.
