Social justice essential for complete democracy, says Ponnam Prabhakar

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has said caste enumeration was not intended to divide communities but to ensure justice for socially and economically backward sections that had remained deprived of opportunities for generations.

Speaking at a panel discussion on social justice under the Telangana Rising theme at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on Friday, he said that complete democracy cannot be achieved without social justice and equitable share in development and governance.

Referring to the comprehensive caste survey conducted by the Congress government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, he said BCs accounted for 56.36% of Telangana’s population. This was not merely a statistical figure but a social reality that needed to be reflected in policy decisions.

He said the State government had passed legislation in the Assembly to provide 42% reservation to BCs in local bodies, describing it as an important step towards ensuring representation in proportion to their population. He urged the Centre to extend the necessary support to implement the proposed reservation.

The Minister called for a scientific and transparent caste census across the country, saying accurate empirical data on the population, educational status, employment and economic conditions of different communities was essential to formulate policies addressing inequalities. He also urged the Centre to consider reservations exceeding the existing 50% ceiling on the basis of empirical data.

Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign for social justice during the Bharat Jodo and Bharat Jodo Nyay yatras, he said the Congress government in Telangana had undertaken a comprehensive socio-economic, educational, employment, political and caste survey after coming to power.

Observing that technology, artificial intelligence and the digital economy were creating new employment opportunities, the Minister said a country’s prosperity should not be measured by its GDP alone but welfare and opportunities for all sections. Minister Seethakka, academics Kancha Ilaiah, Bangya Bhukya, Surepalli Sujatha and AICC leader Alka Lamba were among present.