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Social justice must translate into equal opportunities: Ponnam
In Short
- Minister seeks scientific caste census, quota beyond 50% ceiling
- Cites BCs’ 56.36% share in State population
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Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar speaks during a panel discussion on ‘Telangana Rising – Social Justice’ at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on Friday. Panchayat Raj and Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka and other panellists are also seen
Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has asserted that democracy cannot be complete without social justice, stressing that every section of society must receive equal opportunities, rights and a fair share in development and governance.
Speaking at the ‘Telangana Rising’ panel on ‘Social Justice’ during the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on Friday, the Minister said a caste census was not intended to divide communities but to ensure justice for sections that had remained marginalised for generations.
He pointed out that the comprehensive socio-economic, educational; employment, political and caste survey conducted by the Telangana government revealed that Backward Classes constitute 56.36 per cent of the State’s population. This, he said, was not merely a statistic but a social reality that must be reflected in government policies and welfare programmes.
Under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership, Telangana had taken pioneering steps towards social justice by conducting the survey with the involvement of nearly one lakh personnel who collected data through a door-to-door exercise. The Minister urged the Centre to conduct a scientific and transparent caste census across the country and facilitate reservations beyond the 50 per cent ceiling based on empirical data.
He said the State Legislative Assembly had passed legislation aimed at providing 42 per cent reservation to BCs in local bodies. An independent expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge had also been constituted to examine social justice issues, with Professor Kancha Ilaiah appointed as its Vice-Chairman.
Ponnam said BCs should no longer remain merely a vote bank but should become active partners in governance, policymaking, education, employment and political representation. He urged the Centre to extend necessary cooperation to ensure adequate representation for BCs in proportion to their population.
The Minister emphasised that social justice extended beyond reservations. Every poor BC student should receive quality education, every youth should have employment opportunities, and families dependent on traditional occupations should receive modern technology, financial assistance and market support.
