Latest news with #PraveenChakravarty
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Backwardness index will pave the way for targeted welfare schemes in Telangana, says Praveen Chakravarty
1 2 Hyderabad: In a move that could redefine the framework of welfare and social justice, Telangana is set to unveil India's first backwardness index—a comprehensive caste-wise ranking derived from its state-wide caste survey. The index aims to usher in a paradigm shift: The more backward a caste, the more targeted support it will receive. Praveen Chakravarty, convenor of the expert committee behind the index and a prominent economist who once worked with former PM Manmohan Singh, spoke to Sribala Vadlapatla about the methodology, intent, and implications. Is this the first time a backwardness index has been created in India? Yes, and it's a significant milestone. The Mandal Commission in 1979 surveyed about 50 lakh people but did not build a formal index. Telangana's survey is far more extensive—covering 3.5 crore individuals across 243 castes with 74 questions each. This is the first time such granular caste-level data is being used to develop a scientifically scored backwardness index. How did you ensure the data was accurate and reliable? We conducted rigorous data validation over a 20-day period to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the survey—a major achievement of this entire project. This included outlier analysis to detect anomalies or careless responses. For example, if a respondent in a white-collar job claimed to have no education, it would flag a likely inconsistency, suggesting inattention or error. Our team brought diverse and credible expertise to this process: I come from a data and statistics background; Professor Jean Dreze is both an economist and a sociologist; Professor Himanshu contributed to the Bihar caste census; Thomas Piketty, a renowned French economist, specialises in inequality; Nikhil Dey is a seasoned activist; and Professor Kancha Ilaiah, along with the commission chairperson, brings deep insight from Telangana. How is the ranking of castes determined? We identified 42 key parameters from the questionnaire—covering aspects such as literacy, education, and asset ownership—and placed them along a spectrum ranging from 'most backward' to 'least backward'. Based on these, we developed several sub-indices, including the social backwardness index, gender backwardness index, educational backwardness index, occupational backwardness index, and living conditions index. In our composite backwardness index, a higher score reflects greater backwardness, while a lower score indicates relative advancement. A caste ranking as the most backward across all 42 parameters would score a maximum of 126 points, while the least backward would score zero. However, in practice, no caste scored either the full 126 or zero across the board. How are castes grouped in the index? All 243 castes are divided into quartiles. Those in the most backward 20–30% range receive the highest points (3 per parameter), while the least backward (top 5%) receive zero. The rest fall within intermediary brackets (5–10%, 10–20%), ensuring a nuanced tiering instead of binary classification. What happens after the index is released? It is the govt's responsibility to design welfare schemes based on the varying degrees of backwardness across castes. While some communities lag in multiple areas, others may face disadvantages in only a few. This underscores that backwardness is relative, not absolute. Welfare policies must therefore be targeted and data-driven. We have recommended that the aggregate survey data be made publicly accessible for researchers and policymakers, with AI tools leveraged for deeper analysis. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After caste survey, T to develop backwardness index for sub-groups
1 2 Hyderabad: In a major initiative aimed at advancing data-driven and equitable policymaking, the Telangana Planning and Development Society (TGPDS) is developing a composite backwardness index (CBI) for each of the state's sub-castes. This will be the first effort of its kind at the state level to provide a statistically grounded, objective measure of relative backwardness across communities. The index is being built using data from the Social, Educational, Employment, Economic, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey conducted in 2024. The CBI will quantify levels of disadvantage using quartile-based statistical analysis and provide both aggregate and category-specific rankings of sub-castes based on multiple socio-economic dimensions. The development of this index is being overseen by an expert working group chaired by retired Justice Sudarshan Reddy, constituted in March this year. The initiative draws inspiration from the Mandal Commission, which used 11 key indicators to evaluate the backwardness of sub-castes at the national level. Sources said the committee is planning to finalise the report within a month. The CBI will provide an ordinal ranking of sub-castes, alongside individual scores across seven comprehensive domains: Social status, educational attainment, living conditions, occupation, income levels, ownership of movable and immovable assets, and access to banking and financial services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo In total, the analysis is expected to include up to 43 parameters. Recent meetings of the expert group—held in Hyderabad and followed by a review session in Delhi—focused on finalising the data and statistical methodology for the CBI. During these sessions, the committee also reviewed preliminary findings, discussed modelling techniques, and reached consensus on visual and analytical frameworks to present the results clearly and meaningfully. In a forward-looking recommendation, the committee has urged the state govt to develop an AI-powered natural language interface to enable researchers to engage with the SEEEPC dataset in aggregated form. This tool would ensure privacy and confidentiality at the household level, while making data accessible for deeper academic and policy analysis, promoting transparency and evidence-based dialogue. "The development of the CBI is rooted in the constitutional values of justice, equity, and inclusion," said Praveen Chakravarty, coordinator of the expert group. "There is consensus on the methodology, the parameters of analysis, the representation of findings, and most importantly, the need to base policy decisions on grounded, inclusive data," he said. The SEEEPC survey covered over 3.55 crore individuals across Telangana, collecting data from 243 sub-castes, including options for individuals identifying as 'no caste' or 'others'—recognising diversity and respecting the right of individuals to self-identify. The scope of the survey spans 75 indicators, touching every aspect of daily life—social, economic, occupational, educational, and beyond. The expert committee is composed of nine full-time members, supported by a group of special invitees who bring a wide range of expertise from sociology, caste studies, public policy, law, history, economics, and statistics.
