Centre approves holding caste census as part of next population census
Congress has been constantly asking for a caste census, with PM Modi accusing it of 'seeking to divide the country on caste lines'
In a major decision, the Centre on Wednesday (April 30) decided to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census exercise in a "transparent" manner.
Announcing the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the census comes under the purview of the Centre, but some states have done caste enumeration in the name of surveys. Alleging that the states ruled by Opposition parties have done caste surveys for political reasons, he said it is the Narendra Modi government's resolve to transparently include caste enumeration in the forthcoming pan-India census exercise.
The census exercise was to commence in April 2020 but got delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
The caste census has been a major bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP-led government at the Centre, with the former saying such a survey will not only streamline the distribution of government benefits but also provide a clear picture as to which section of society needs the government’s attention the most.
However, so far the BJP has been non-committal on the issue, even as its ally in Bihar, the JD(U), has been constantly raising the issue. Modi had also accused the Congress of seeking to divide the country on caste lines.
Hailing the move as a "historic decision: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that with it Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a message of strong commitment towards social equality.
"The Modi government, committed to social justice, has taken a historic decision today.In the CCPA meeting held today under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, a message of strong commitment towards social equality and rights of every section has been given by deciding to include caste census in the upcoming census. The Congress and its allies opposed the caste census for decades while in power and played politics over it while in the opposition. This decision will empower all economically and socially backward classes, promote inclusion and pave new paths for the progress of the deprived," posted Shah on X
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