Manda Krishna Madiga, founder and president of Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), appreciated the Telangana government’s decision in favour of Scheduled Castes’ sub-categorisation based on the Justice Shameem Akhtar judicial commission’s report. However, he objected to the quotas within the SC quota allocated to the group that includes Madigas, demanding that their share be increased from 9% to 11%.
The judicial commission had recommended that the 59 sub-castes among the SCs in Telangana be divided into three groups, based on social, economic, and educational backwardness, splitting the total 15% SC quota in public employment and education into three categories.
Recruitments and admissions will follow a preference model. This means any vacancies notified but left unfilled in Group 1 shall be filled by candidates from Group 2, and those unfilled by Group 2 shall be filled by Group 3. “If suitable candidates are not available in all the groups, the vacancies will be carried forward,” CM Revanth said.
Madigas have been placed in Group 2, along with 17 other castes said to have received moderate benefits, with 9% reservation. Malas and 25 other castes which were found to have received better benefits, are in Group 3, with 5% reservation. The remaining 1% is set aside for Group 1, comprising 15 castes which were found to be socially, economically, and educationally the most backward.
While backwardness has been considered as the basis for the order of preference, the quantum of reservation has been based on the proportion of each group’s population, as per the 2011 Census. Group 1 comprises only 3% of the population, which amounts to 0.5% of the total 15% SC quota. This has been extended to 1%.
Group 2, which includes Madigas, comprises 63% of SC population, amounting to 9.4% of the 15% quota, but this has been rounded down to 9%.
Group 2, which includes Madigas, comprises 34% of SC population, amounting to 5.1% of the 15% quota.
“Madigas should get 10.5 to 11% reservation, but we have been given only 9%, along with a few other sub-castes,” Manda Krishna Madiga said.
He also alleged that the third most numerous Scheduled Caste, Netkanis (2.5% of SC population), have been clubbed with Malas to increase their share of the quota, instead of being grouped with Madigas. Malas (29%) and Madigas (62%) are the two largest Scheduled Castes in the Telugu states.
Manda Krishna Madiga also asked that the government consider status of backwardness and not just the population share while deciding the quota share of each group.
He also alleged that the Pambala community was too socio-economically and educationally advanced to be included in Group 1.
The MRPS has been demanding SC sub-categorisation for three decades, saying Malas have benefited disproportionately from reservation among SCs due to various social and political factors.
The Supreme Court in August 2024 passed a verdict permitting sub-classification within reserved category groups, allowing a quota within quota for castes that are more marginalised within the SC reserved category.
