On Wednesday, the Union government announced that caste-based enumeration will be included in the upcoming India decadal population census, which is yet to be taken by the country. It is a landmark in the political and social development of the country. This decision was taken at a powerful Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A press briefing by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the announcement, as he said this marks the Government’s commitment towards societal equity and inclusivity. Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has taken a decision that the caste enumeration will be done as part of the next census.” The fact that the government wants to address all the values and interests of all sections of society this highlights, Vaishnaw said.
However, casting data in the national census has become a topic of contention in Indian politics for decades. All the socio-economic data is recorded in the decennial census, but caste enumeration was last taken on a large scale in 1931. The move comes in step with demands made by opposition parties and social groups for updated caste data to back targeted welfare schemes.
It also is a heady announcement for the Bihar assembly elections, which are due later this year, as caste has long been an important factor in electoral politics in the state. The blaze was rekindled, though, with the Janata Dal (United), an ally of the BJP, having already conducted a caste census at the state level in Bihar.
He also stressed that if such an enumeration is to be done, it should be done fully transparently so as to make it credible. He also noted that previously, the central government had implemented 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) without disturbing the society to go out balance of in society.
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