Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an up-to-date caste census, saying significant social justice and empowerment programmes are incomplete within the absence of such an information.
In the letter, he additionally identified that the common decennial census was to be carried out in 2021 however it has not but been performed.
Explained | Why is the federal government towards caste census?
“I am writing to you to once again place on record the demand of the Indian National Congress for an up-to-date Caste Census. My colleagues and I have raised this demand earlier in both House of Parliament on a number of occasions as have leaders of many other Opposition parties,” the Congress chief stated in his letter dated April 16.
“You are aware that for the first time the UPA Government conducted a Socio-Economic and Caste Census [SECC] during 2011-12 covering some 25 crore households. For a number of reasons, however, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in May 2014,” he stated.
“In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable data base so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete. This Census is the responsibility of the Union Government,” Mr. Kharge stated.
“We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made its integral part,” Mr. Kharge added.
Sharing Mr. Kharge’s letter to the Prime Minister, Congress normal secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Jitni aabadi, utna haq! Congress President @kharge -ji has written to PM demanding that the decennial Census that should have been conducted in 2021 be done right-away, and a Caste Census be made its integral part. This will put social justice & empowerment on a firmer footing.”
Release 2011 caste-based census knowledge: Rahul
Addressing a rally in Katnataka’s Kolar, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on April 16 had additionally dared Prime Minister Modi to launch the 2011 caste-based census knowledge in public area and likewise demanded the 50% cap on reservation be eliminated.
“UPA in 2011 did the caste-based census. It has the data of all the castes. Mr Prime Minister, you talk of OBCs. Make that data public. Let the nation know how many OBCs, Dalits and Tribals are there in the country,” Gandhi had stated on the Congress’ ‘Jai Bharat’ election rally in Kolar within the run-up to the May 10 Karnataka polls.
Parley | Is a caste census fascinating?
Underlining the necessity to make the info public, Mr. Gandhi had additionally stated if everybody has to turn out to be a part of the event of the nation, it’s essential to discover out the inhabitants dimension of every neighborhood.
“Please release the caste census data so that the nation knows how much is the population of OBCs, Dalits and Tribals. If you don’t do this, then it is an insult to the OBCs. Also, remove the cap of 50% on reservations,” Mr. Gandhi stated on the rally.
The Congress chief additionally identified that the secretaries are the “backbones” of the Government of India however solely 7% from Dalit, Tribal and OBC communities are appointed Secretaries on the Centre.
“The biggest question is how many OBCs, Tribals and Dalits are there in India. If we talk of money and power distribution, then the first step should be to find out the size of their population,” Mr. Gandhi had stated.
The Congress-led UPA regime had compiled the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in 2011. The stories from the census have been revealed besides that of the caste knowledge.
