Congress government issues order for caste survey in Rajasthan

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. 

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

Rajasthan caste survey

Rajasthan will be the second state in the country to conduct such a population count. The assembly polls in Rajasthan are due later this year, and the election schedule is expected to be announced anytime soon.

According to the order, issued by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment after the state cabinet’s nod, the Rajasthan government will conduct the survey with its own resources for collecting information and figures related to the social, economic and educational levels of all its citizens.

The Department of Planning (Economics and Statistics) has been made the nodal department for the work. However, the order does not provide a time frame for the conduct of the population count.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Rajasthan will follow the model of Bihar.

The questionnaire will be prepared by the nodal department for the work. All those subjects will be mentioned in it, so that complete information about the social, economic and educational level of every person can be obtained, it stated.

Sharing a copy of the order on X, Congress said, “The Congress government of Rajasthan will conduct a caste-based survey. Congress is working on its resolution of ‘whoever participates, so does his participation’.”

राजस्थान की कांग्रेस सरकार जाति आधारित सर्वे कराएगी।

कांग्रेस ‘जिसकी जितनी भागीदारी-उसकी उतनी हिस्सेदारी’ के अपने संकल्प पर काम कर रही है। pic.twitter.com/7z1Wb4T4LP

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 7, 2023

Karnataka caste survey

The then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in 2015 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 this week, Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes chairperson K Jayaprakash said he would submit the caste census report to the state government in November.

“When the H Kantharaj-headed commission gave the report, the then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy did not take it. Now there is a different chairman for the commission. I have asked him to submit the report filed by Kantharaj as it is. He has said that the report will be given in November. Let’s see,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

In the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress leaders — including Siddaramaiah — had promised they would make the KSCBC report public if they were voted into power.

Siddaramaiah reiterated the assurance in an interview with South First ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls.

Related: Caste census release after getting report from panel: Siddaramaiah

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.

The Congress further on Sunday, 8 October, questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of caste census and asked why BJP-ruled states were not conducting them to ensure social justice and rights.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said when the Bharat Jodo Yatra was in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi had met delegations of many communities, and during that time OBC delegations had specifically raised the demand for a caste census. 

“Rahul Gandhi took their words very seriously. Now the Rajasthan government has decided to conduct a caste-based survey in accordance with their sentiments. This is a welcome step,” he said in a post in Hindi on X.

“The question is why such initiatives are not being taken in any BJP-ruled state and why is the Prime Minister silent on the issue of caste census,” Ramesh also asked.

भारत जोड़ो यात्रा जब राजस्थान में थी, तब कई समुदायों के प्रतिनिधिमंडलों ने @RahulGandhi से मुलाक़ात की थी। उस दौरान ओबीसी के प्रतिनिधिमंडल ने विशेष रूप से जाति जनगणना की मांग उठाई थी। राहुल गांधी ने उनकी बातों को बेहद गंभीरता से लिया था।

अब राजस्थान सरकार ने उनकी भावनाओं के… pic.twitter.com/We8y5cDagW

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 8, 2023

(With PTI inputs)

Also read: Conduct national caste census to ensure social justice: Congress