Hyderabad: The caste survey reveals that social barriers continue to shape everyday life, from access to places of worship to choices in marriage, pointing to the persistence of deep-rooted hierarchies.The SEEEPC survey found that 6.4 lakh households — about 5.7% of the total — reported facing restrictions or intimidation while visiting local places of worship. The experience of discrimination cuts across communities, with 3.9% of STs, 5% of BCs, 5.3% of SCs and 5.4% of general castes (OCs) reporting barriers in accessing religious spaces. The report notes that historically, marginalised communities have often been denied entry into temples and other places of worship, reflecting entrenched social segregation. It adds that perceptions of discrimination — whether real or perceived — remain a critical marker of caste-based exclusion and help assess whether such practices continue to exist. Inter-caste marriages rareBeyond public spaces, caste boundaries are equally visible within the private sphere of marriage. Inter-caste unions, often seen as a sign of social openness, remain rare across the state. The survey shows that only 6.27 lakh households, or 5.6% of the total, reported having at least one inter-caste marriage within the family. This effectively means that nearly 95% of families in Telangana continue to marry within their own caste and community. Variations exist across groups. Among OCs, inter-caste marriages stand at 5.8%, nearly double the rate among STs at 3.2%. Backward Classes and SCs report similar levels at 4.7% and 4.9%, respectively. Restrictions in religious access and the low prevalence of inter-caste marriages together point to the enduring hold of caste norms in shaping social behaviour across Telangana.
