Are we headed towards the reality of caste census?
The results of a state-level survey, India's first caste-based count since a 1931 census, were made public by Bihar
The results of a state-level survey, India's first caste-based count since a 1931 census, were made public by Bihar
Taking into account the average population size of 20.78 % living in urban areas, the total OBC population at that time may have been more than 50% of the total population of Uttar Pradesh at 16.61 crore in the 2001 census.
J&K has 20 districts, 10 each in Jammu & Kashmir valley where the demand for creation of more districts has been surfacing from different places.
It sounds legitimate that a caste census would bring to the fore the numbers of individuals who are on the fringes — which should be of much use in democratic policy making. It has been argued that a Socio-Economic caste census would be the most effective method to justify reservation based on evidence. In absence of such enumeration, there is no proper estimate for the OBC population as also various groups within the OBCs.
Shakiluzzaman Ansari, president of the body said, "the Prime Minister himself calls that he is from the OBC community and he knows the problems of the community as well. We hope that Prime Minister will accept the demand of the community."
Apart from supposedly boosting his image as the leader of the backward community, the findings of the census could also propel him to the chief minister’s post in the event the Congress comes to power in 2023, by pipping his arch rival, state Congress president, D K Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, to the post.
Siddaramaiah, who met former ministers H.C. Mahadevappa on Friday demanded that the caste census of the state must be made public.
Patnaik, in a letter to PM Modi raised concern about the heath risk involved in the exercise to both the functionaries as well as the people who will be approached for the census updation as well as the National Population Register, across the country.
Present in good numbers under the banner of National Adivasi-Indigenous Religion Coordination Committee, they said tribals have a separate identity, not associated with any religion, and therefore require a separate column in the census.
Meanwhile, all other states have agreed to participate in the conference of state chief secretaries and directors to discuss the modalities of the Census and NPR beginning April 1, and they are on board.
