New Delhi: The Congress on Monday mentioned the formulation of inquiries to be requested within the first part of the census has forged doubt on the Centre’s announcement that caste may even be counted within the second part of the census beginning April 1.
In a press release, Congress Common Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh requested the federal government to provoke a dialogue with the political class and civil society to finalize the roadmap for the caste enumeration train to be carried out within the second part of the census.
Ramesh mentioned Query 12, listed among the many 33 topics coated within the Housing Record/Housing Census (Part I), “raises critical questions concerning the true intentions of the Modi authorities and its dedication to a complete and neutral nationwide caste census, as formulated.”
He identified that the query doesn’t particularly ask about “OBC and normal classes” however seeks info on whether or not the top of the family belongs to the “Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Others” class.
“The Indian Nationwide Congress has now requested the Modi authorities to instantly provoke dialogue with political events, state governments and civil society organizations earlier than finalizing the small print of the caste enumeration train,” Ramesh mentioned.
He basically prompt that if the caste standing of the top of the family is ascertained on the first stage, then OBC and ahead castes as classes may be enumerated alongside SC and ST.
The 33 inquiries to be posed within the first part of the census had been notified by the federal government on January 22. Samajwadi Get together chief Akhilesh Yadav has additionally expressed related issues, questioning the federal government’s involvement.
“Census notifications do not actually have a column for caste. What do they depend? Caste-based census is simply one other contraption of the BJP. Their easy system does not depend and there’s no demographic foundation for proportional reservations or rights,” Yadav posted on X on January 24.
The federal government had beforehand introduced that caste information can be collected electronically through the second part of inhabitants enumeration within the subsequent decennial census, which might be held six years later.
This resolution was made by the Cupboard Committee on Political Affairs on April 30 final 12 months. Nonetheless, the federal government has not but introduced the methodology that might be used to implement the second part.
The Congress additionally reiterated its request to the Heart to leverage the expertise of the Telangana authorities in conducting the Social, Instructional, Financial, Employment, Political and Caste Survey 2025 (SEEEPC) whereas designing the framework for the decennial census.
“Such consultations are an integral a part of the SEEEPC survey carried out by the Authorities of Telangana in 2025 and are essentially the most complete and significant technique to collect essential caste-specific info on training, employment, revenue and political engagement, all of that are important to make sure higher financial and social justice,” Ramesh mentioned.
(Edited by Varnika Dhawan)
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