Urban India and Caste Discrimination in Telangana

The idea has long been held in India: moving to the city means leaving behind village caste hierarchies and finding freedom from caste-based discrimination. In the bustling modern economy, it was believed that caste would fade away, replaced by merit and opportunity. The city, many thought, could achieve what policies had not.

But a new survey challenges this belief. The Telangana SEEEPC Survey 2024, which includes data on 3.55 crore people across 242 caste groups, reveals a harsh truth: in the city, caste does not disappear. Instead, it becomes sharper for those who are already marginalized.

For Adivasis and other deprived communities in Telangana, life in the city is harder than ever. Discrimination against these groups has doubled, according to the survey. The promise of equality in urban India remains unfulfilled for many.