KAPU'S IN 20th CENTURY

Kapus in the 20th century
Though the Kapu community did have a great role to play in the various social, economic, political and cultural aspects of the Telugu society up until the 19th century, it has not enjoyed economic and political success after India's independence. They started getting into a steady decline except for a few sections of the community who adopted to modern education and economic transition. The decline peaked during the 1970s and 1980s. Off late with economic liberalization and with the removal of License Raj and government monopoly on sectors, the community is slowly but steadily rebuilding itself.
The Kapu community were slow in adopting the modern techniques of cultivation, education, business and politics.
The richer sections of the community primarily in Coastal Andhra took part in the renaissance but to a larger extent the middle farmers from Rayalaseema and Telangana could not take advantage of this because of not being blessed with natural resources like their coastal counterparts.
This resulted in a drastic decrease in education among the community in Rayalaseema, Telangana and North Andhra resulting in poverty.
Although socially still a forward community, lack of Government support by the way of political representation, reservations, welfare measures made the some sections of the Kapus economically deprived.
They currently have only about 5% representation in government jobs and services despite being about 12.15% of the state population.
They have only about 48 members representing both the Parliament and Assembly seats which does not represent the numbers the community has in the state.
It is of the opinion that both the major political parties, the Congress and Telugu Desam did not equitably allocate assembly seats to Kapus as per their population. For instance, Balijas, even after being a majority in the Rayalaseema districts have hardly any MLAs representing them in the State Assembly.[15]
The lack of strategic or collective decision making and disinclination to join politics are believed to have had a detrimental effect on the community. Off late, however, they are trying to consolidate their representation in elected bodies.
A large number of Kapus have diversified into business, industry, arts and academia both in India and abroad. There are also a number of budding entrepreneurs who have succeeded in different fields