Cong gives nod to include caste data in census
SAUBHADRO CHATTERJI New Delhi, 27 May
The Congress brass has decided to include caste-wise data as a part of
the government's ongoing exercise to compile the census details by
2011. Top sources in the party said the objections of "practical
difficulties" could be "sorted out" and the party says such adatabase
will provide an accurate political and social landscape.
The caste data will only reveal the headcount and not give any
detailed analysis of the economic and social condition of any castes.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet had decided to refer the issue to a Group of
Ministers (GoM). Sources in the Cabinet say this decision was taken
purely to allow the Cabinet to concentrate of several other issues.
"A discussion on caste-based census in the Cabinet would have taken at
least 8-9 hours as almost every member has to say something on the
issue." Top sources in the Cabinet said even as the census data
collection process had already started, the caste-based data
collection can be incorporated at alater stage, perhaps when the
government officials go for the second round of survey in early 2011.
In the meantime, the data collectors can be given additional training
to handle the caste details.
The GoM on caste data will be headed by Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee, who, is an ardent supporter of including caste data in the
census. In Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, except Human Resource
Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Commerce and Industry Minister
Anand Sharma, all members showed support for the caste-based census.
Government managers also pointed out that the move could give
political benefits to the government, which is treading on
uncomfortable majority in the Lok Sabha. As the government needs to
pass crucial legislation like the civil nuclear liability Bill, the
caste-based census is likely to garner support of the Yadav lobby —
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav.
A section of the party also says the caste census may also provide a
leeway if the government finally pushes for the contentious Women's
Reservation Bill, opposed by the Yadav lobby.
Congress sources pointed out that the party's own allies —the DMK and
Trinamool Congress — have also stood behind the government for
inclusion of caste data in the ongoing census. Trinamool Congress
chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay, told Business
Standard: "We will support the government's decision in this case. We
feel when there are acts like the Right to Information, there is no
reason to suppress caste concentration in the country." Earlier, Home
minister P Chidambaram had pointed out that there were technical and
practical difficulties in gathering caste information immediately.
The forms currently circulated for collecting census data also do not
include any caste column. But Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has
said that during the second round of collection, an additional column
can be added to the forms.
The finance minister had also pointed out that if the caste data
collection was done separately at a later stage, it would amount to a
huge expenditure. The government has sanctioned Rs 2,200 crore for the
census 2011 so far.
A census official marks a house after collecting details from a
village resident at Hatkhuwapara village in Assam. PHOTO: REUTERS
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