Twenty-First International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Science

Abstract

This paper examines the politics of recognition with respect to Budaga / Beda Jangam community in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Historically semi-nomadic and socially marginalized, the community continues to experience systemic exclusion, largely due to inconsistencies in their official classification within India’s reservation framework. While recognized as a Scheduled Caste (SC) in Telangana, they are frequently placed under Other Castes (OC) or upper-caste categories in Andhra Pradesh. This ambiguity has produced critical policy gaps, undermining access to education, political representation, land rights, and employment. Through qualitative insights and policy analysis, the paper argues that the community’s marginalization stems from a failed politics of recognition, where constitutional safeguards exist in principle but remain inaccessible in practice. The lack of a unified classification not only weakens targeted welfare measures but also perpetuates socio-economic vulnerability. The study concludes by advocating for a just and consistent reclassification of the Budaga/Beda Jangam in the forthcoming national census. Recognition aligned with their historical and contemporary realities is essential to rectify systemic injustices and to secure their full inclusion in India’s democratic and developmental processes.