Caste enumeration to be included in next census: Govt

New Delhi, Apr 30 : In a significant decision, the government on Wednesday decided that caste enumeration will be included in the forthcoming census.
Briefing the media about the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that some states have done caste surveys and conducting a census is in the domain of the central government.
He said Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has decided today that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census.
Vaishnaw alleged that Congress governments “have always opposed caste census”.
“Caste was not included in all the census operations conducted since independence. In 2010, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singhji had assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the cabinet. A group of ministers was formed to consider this subject. Most political parties recommended a caste census. Despite this, the Congress government decided to conduct only a survey of caste instead of a census. That survey is known as SECC,” Vaishnaw said.
“It is well understood that Congress and its INDI alliance partners have only used the caste census as a political tool. As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the subject census is listed at 69 in the Union list in the 7th schedule. According to the Constitution of India, census is a Union subject. Some states have conducted surveys to enumerate caste. Some states have done this well, while some others have conducted such surveys purely from a political angle in a non-transparent way. Considering all these facts and to ensure that a social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the census instead of surveys,” he added.
Vaishnaw said this will strengthen the social and economic structure of the society while the nation continues to progress.
“Under the leadership of PM Modi, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs has decided today that Caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census. This demonstrates that the government is committed to the values and interests of the society and the country,” he said.
The minister said that the Modi government had earlier introduced ten per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections without causing any stress on any section of the society.
Congress has been demanding a caste census, with party leaders repeatedly making the demand in their speeches.
Following the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday emphasised that the move sends a strong message of commitment to social equality and the rights of every section of society.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Shah asserted that the decision would empower all backward classes. “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 Narendra Modi 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,” he said.
BJP President and Union Minister JP Nadda also targeted the Congress, accusing them of using the issue for political gain. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the Union Cabinet has taken a historic decision to include caste-based census in the census. This decision is extremely important from the point of view of bringing the economically, socially, and educationally backward castes into the mainstream and restoring the dignity to the people who have been deprived of their rights for a long time. For a long time, Congress has fulfilled its political interests by increasing animosity between castes and making them a means of vote bank,” Nadda said on X. (ANI)