It is a fact that in Andhra Pradesh the madigas are somewhat more backward and are lagging behind compared to the malas in terms of the space occpied in the services and in higher education and in terms of other socio-economic indicators. This is not a mala vs madiga issue, however. No doubt a contradiction has emerged and even led to conflicts, but one that must be resolved on the basis of the recognition that both malas and madigas are bond together by their common suffering.