Congress Questions Modi on Census Delay, Emphasizes Need for Caste Count
New Delhi: The Congress party has raised concerns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the delayed Census, asserting that a comprehensive caste count is essential for achieving social, economic, and political justice in India. Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, highlighted the urgency of the situation in light of Sri Lanka’s recent announcement to commence its Population and Housing Census, which has not been conducted since 2012.
In a post on X, Ramesh pointed out that the decennial Census, originally scheduled for 2021, has yet to be initiated in India. He expressed frustration over the continued reliance on data from the 2011 Census, stating that over 10 crore Indians are being deprived of benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana due to this delay.
Ramesh further questioned the government’s stance on integrating caste-related inquiries into the Census, a demand echoed by Congress and various other political parties. He emphasized that detailed enumeration of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been conducted every ten years since 1951, and a similar approach is now required for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other castes.
“The only way to ensure full and meaningful social, economic, and political justice in education and employment is through a caste census,” Ramesh stated. He concluded by questioning why the Prime Minister, whom he referred to as the “non-biological PM,” continues to postpone a Census that could also serve as a caste count.
The Congress party’s calls for a timely Census reflect broader concerns regarding social equity and the need for accurate demographic data to inform policy decisions in the country.
