Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urges PM Modi to include caste count in decadal census exercise

Also read: Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Bihar releases caste census data

Evidence-based policymaking

In his letter to Modi, Stalin said, “This will enable evidence-based policymaking, helping all of us ensure equitable and inclusive development. Undertaking this task concurrently with the decadal census would not only ensure comparability of data across the nation, but also optimise resource utilisation.”

“Hence, the Union government should immediately plan and commence preparations for a comprehensive, nationwide caste census,” the chief minister said in his letter dated Friday, 20 October.

The census, which was due in 2021, could not be conducted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stalin said that crucial caste-related data outcomes would touch the lives of crores of deserving people and therefore the census should not be delayed any further.

Hon’ble Prime Minister @NarendraModi, I urge you to integrate #CasteCensus with the forthcoming national decadal census. This step is paramount for ensuring #SocialJustice and fostering inclusive growth. It’s been 90 years since the last one in 1931, and the demographic and… pic.twitter.com/oHZQRFrV3n

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 21, 2023

Caste census in other states

On Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October, the Bihar government released the findings of its caste survey.

According to its findings, the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute a whopping 63 percent of the state’s total population.

The numbers have the potential to change political calculations in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections and also set off a domino effect with more Opposition-ruled states looking to emulate it.

On 7 October, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah said that a decision would be taken on making the caste survey findings public, once he received the report next month.

In 2015, the then-Siddaramaiah-led Congress government commissioned the social-economic and educational survey, at an estimated cost of ₹170 crore in the state, the findings of which have not been made public yet.

Earlier, Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes chairperson K Jayaprakash said that he would submit the caste census report to the state government in November.

On 7 October, the Congress-ruled Rajasthan government, too, had issued an order for the conduct of a caste survey in the state.

Also read: Caste census release after getting report from panel: Siddaramaiah

Nationwide caste census

Referring to the state-wise caste survey, Stalin said, “Although such state-specific initiatives and their data outcomes are very useful in providing insights, they lack the advantage of nationwide comparability of inputs and processes.”

“In addition, they lack the statutory stamp without a legislative backing for such data collection since the census as a subject is in the union list. Hence, we are of the considered view that only a statutory census of India, with critical caste-related data inputs, would be able to provide an appropriate platform for upholding social justice,” he explained.

Census data has always been the bedrock of policy-framing exercises, targeting specific interventions for the socio-economic development of the underprivileged.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi asks PM to release caste census data

Caste — key determinant of social progress

Since caste has historically been a key determinant of the prospects of social progress in Indian society, it is essential that factual data on it is made available in the public domain, Stalin said in his letter to Modi.

Only this can empower various stakeholders and policymakers to analyse the impact of our past programmes and plan strategies for the future, he added.

However, no contemporary data has been available since the last caste census conducted in India in 1931. In the past 90 years, the demographic and socio-economic landscape of our country has undergone many changes.

“But the underprivileged sections of our society continue to remain backward, in spite of numerous past policy actions. Hence, it is vital that contemporary data derived from a common standard process at the national level is cumulated to address all the pressing issues related to social justice, equity and inclusivity,” the Tamil Nadu chief minister said.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi bats for caste census in Telangana

INDIA pushes for country-wide caste survey

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of Opposition parties has been pushing for better representation for OBCs as part of their social justice plank ahead of the polls.

It may also be noted that former AICC chief and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns over the Union government not undertaking a caste census.

Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress had conducted a census but its results were not published by the Modi government.

On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi once again raised the issue about caste census in the poll-bound Telangana.

Speaking at one of the meetings during the second day of the Vijayabheri Yatra, Rahul called to account Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not ordering a caste census so far.

“The census will let us know the socio-economic condition of Dalits, tribals, and OBCs. Once we know which caste how much population has, it becomes easy to determine for whom we have to budget how much money for a better and balanced improvement in their living conditions,” he said.

“The governments in Congress-ruled states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka have been asked to commission caste censuses,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)