Telangana leads India in combined representation by marginalised communities in rural local bodies

Telangana leads in women's representation, achieving 53.08 percent. Unlike many other states, Telangana has successfully empowered marginalized communities by ensuring they have real access to power.

Hyderabad: Thanks to the reforms brought by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Telangana leads the country in gram panchayats combinedly represented by marginalised sections. Around 73.56 per cent of rural local body seats in Telangana are held by Backward Classes (BCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) combined, which is the highest for any State in the country.

Telangana is also standing tall in women’s representation with 53.08 per cent. While other States lag behind, Telangana has ensured that real power reaches the marginalised communities.

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According to the Devolution Index Report 2024 (Main Report) by Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj, there around 1,18,760 wards across 12,800 gram panchayats in the State. Of these, around 50 per cent seats are reserved for women, but around 53.08 per cent seats i.e. 63,034 seats are represented by women in gram panchayats.

Similarly, around 21,456 seats are occupied by SCs with 18.07 per cent reservation, while 25,060 ST representatives were elected with 21.1 per cent reservation. The BCs represent around 40,847 wards with a reservation of 34.39 per cent in the State.

Citing the latest numbers furnished by the Centre, BRS leader Nayini Anurag Reddy stated that these numbers are a testament to K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s vision for inclusive governance at the grassroots level. “Talkers never do, doers never talk much,” he remarked.