CM firm on SC sub-grouping Says resolution to include Budaga Jangam in SC list will be sent to Centre

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reiterated his commitment to the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SC) in the State, emphasising that the move will ensure equitable distribution of benefits without disadvantaging any community.
 Addressing the Assembly on Thursday, he described the resolution of this decades-old issue as a milestone, recalling that discussions on the subject date back to his first tenure as Chief Minister in 1995. He also highlighted the Supreme Court’s endorsement of sub-categorization and assured that it would foster social justice among SC sub-groups.
Naidu stated that the state-level implementation of SC sub-categorization had commenced based on the 2011 Census. Once the 2026 Census is completed, the categorisation process will be extended to the district level, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all SC communities are protected. He also announced that a resolution to include the Budaga Jangam community in the SC category would be sent to the Central government.
The issue of SC sub-categorization has been under discussion for nearly three decades, with the Chief Minister describing it as a rare opportunity to correct long-standing inequalities. Reflecting on past struggles, he noted that Dalits had faced systemic discrimination, including denial of access to drinking water and substandard living conditions. He praised former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao for pioneering social justice initiatives such as establishing permanent housing for SCs and STs and creating social welfare schools.
Recalling previous efforts to address caste-based discrimination, Naidu highlighted the role of the Justice Punnayya Commission, which led to the issuance of 25 government orders to combat untouchability.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Manda Krishna, a leader of the Madiga community, whose “Madiga Dandora” movement pushed for justice for marginalized groups. The Justice Ramachandra Rao Commission, established in 1996, further examined the socio-economic status of Dalits in the state.
The state government had initially sub-categorized SC reservations into four groups in 1997, a system approved by then-President K.R. Narayanan. This categorization created over 22,000 job opportunities for Madigas and other sub-groups. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that only Parliament had the authority to decide on sub-categorization.
In 2023, the apex court upheld the legality of SC sub-categorization, citing the findings of the Justice Usha Mehra Commission, which had confirmed its positive impact.
Responding to ongoing demands for justice, Naidu underscored the establishment of the Justice Rajeev Ranjan Mishra Commission in November 2024. The commission’s report, submitted in March 2025, classified 59 SC sub-groups into three categories: Group 1 (Most Backward) with 1% reservation for communities like Relli, Group 2 (Backward) with 6.5% reservation for Madiga sub-groups, and Group 3 (Relatively Less Backward) with 7.5% reservation for Mala sub-groups. This framework aims to ensure fair distribution of job opportunities among SC communities.
Naidu also highlighted the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) long-standing commitment to fighting caste discrimination. Under NTR’s leadership, the party introduced several measures to safeguard the rights of Dalits and tribals, including laws to protect tribal lands and the establishment of special grievance cells for SCs and STs. Additionally, TDP set up special courts to address atrocities against Dalits and provided free legal aid to victims.
The party has played a significant role in promoting Dalit leadership in politics, appointing GMC Balayogi as the first Dalit Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Naidu also recalled TDP’s support in the election of K.R. Narayanan as President of India and APJ Abdul Kalam as President, backed by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Expressing his commitment to economic upliftment, Naidu said that poverty eradication remains a top priority. He recounted his government’s past initiatives, including the introduction of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) for economic growth, and announced a new initiative, “P4,” aimed at supporting the bottom 20% of economically weaker sections by utilizing resources from the top 10%.
The Chief Minister also assured that the government would continue working on caste certification for the Turpu Kapu community and other marginalized groups to ensure social justice reaches all sections of society. He reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating caste-based discrimination and fostering an inclusive society with equal opportunities for all communities, regardless of their socio-economic background.