HYDERABAD: Land ownership patterns in Telangana reflect deep economic inequality across castes. The SEEEPC Survey-2024 shows that some smaller communities control a disproportionately large share of land.
Reddys, classified as Other Castes (OCs), own 13.5% of the state's land despite making up only 4.8% of the population. Yadavas, a Backward Class (BC) group, account for 5.7% of the population but hold 8.7% of land. Lambadas, a Scheduled Tribe (ST), form 6.8% of the population and own 8.6% of landholdings. Velamas (OCs) and Koyas (STs) also report higher land ownership than their population share.
Lower Ownership Among Some Communities
In contrast, some communities have much lower land ownership. Scheduled Caste Bedas and OC Muslims fall into this category. Their land share is significantly below their population proportion. This points to long-standing exclusion from land assets.
Land Concentration Among Key Castes
The survey highlights a strong concentration of land ownership. Seven castes-Reddy, Yadav, Lambada, Mudiraj, Munnuru Kapu, Kuruma and Koya-together make up 32% of the population. However, they control 51% of the state's land. This pattern shows how land continues to shape economic power and social status in Telangana.
Palaeolithic tool factory site identified in Telangana's Bhupathipur village
Why Land Ownership Matters
The report stresses that land is more than just an asset. It provides income through farming or rent, and also offers social status, economic security and bargaining power. The survey classifies landholdings into three categories: small holdings are below five acres, medium holdings range from 5 to 20 acres, and large holdings are above 20 acres.
STs Perform Better on Land Indicator
An expert group noted that land gaps between OCs and marginalised groups are smaller than gaps seen in education and employment. Scheduled Tribes perform relatively better on this parameter. This is mainly because they own larger areas of dry or fallow land.
Land Ownership Not Equal to Social Progress
The report cautions that owning land does not always reduce backwardness. Some BC communities, such as goldsmiths and BC Christians, own less land but are better placed due to education and occupations. On the other hand, communities like Kuruma continue to face higher backwardness. Their landholdings are often small and fragmented.