Telangana needs a wealth commission

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

"What was the life of the common man in the civilization of the Nile? Who were the labourers that carried the stones to build the Taj Mahal?" In his celebrated work Mahaprasthanam, the Telugu poet Sri Sri reminded us that history is built not only by kings and rulers but also by the countless anonymous workers whose labour made civilizations possible. The same question confronts Telangana today.

Telangana's contribution to India's GDP has increased by nearly 0.9 percentage points over the last decade. However, the benefits of this economic growth have not been reflected proportionately in the living standards of the majority of the population. Instead, within just over a decade, Telangana has witnessed the emergence of several US dollar billionaires and many ultra-high-net-worth individuals possessing assets worth thousands of crores of rupees. This trend raises an important question: Who has benefited the most from Telangana's economic growth?

No BC /SC /ST among billionaires

According to the Hurun India Rich List 2026, Hyderabad ranks as the third-largest city in India in terms of the number of billionaires. Telangana is home to 18 US dollar billionaires, each with an estimated net worth exceeding Rs 8,500 crore. Furthermore, Hyderabad has 104 individuals with a net worth exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, making it the third-largest concentration of wealthy individuals after Mumbai and Delhi. A closer examination of this list shows that the overwhelming majority belong to a few dominant social groups, while not a single individual from the BC, SC, or ST communities appears on the list.

How wealth was created in Telangana?

In Telangana, historically land ownership remained concentrated among a few dominant communities. This provided them with a strong foundation for investing in industries, real estate, infrastructure, and large-scale businesses. Political power further enabled access to government land, industrial incentives, public contracts, and infrastructure projects, reinforcing this concentration of wealth. Meanwhile, many Backward Class (BC) communities experienced the decline of their traditional occupations and gradually shifted from being producers and entrepreneurs to wage laborers, limiting their opportunities for wealth creation.

What does the constitution envision?

Article 38 directs the State to promote social, economic, and political justice. Article 39(b) provides that the ownership and control of material resources should be distributed to best serve the common good. Article 46 requires the State to promote the educational and economic interests of weaker sections.  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar warned that political democracy cannot survive unless it is accompanied by social and economic democracy.

Why Telangana needs a wealth commission

Telangana should establish an independent Telangana Wealth Commission to study wealth concentration, analyze structural inequalities and recommend policies that broaden access to wealth creation. The Commission would not confiscate anyone's wealth. Its responsibilities should include recommending measures to improve access to capital, government procurement and business opportunities for BCs, SCs, STs, minorities and women. The Commission may be chaired by a distinguished economist or a retired judge and should submit an annual report to the Telangana Legislature.

Economic growth measured only by GDP is not sufficient. True development requires wealth decentralization, social justice and equal participation in economic opportunities. Bahujan communities must secure meaningful participation in political decision-making and economic policymaking. They must also become entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, industrialists and exporters.         

(T Chiranjeevulu is a retired IAS officer and Chairman of BC Intellectuals Forum Hyderabad.)