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Caste Census: Two options

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https://theprint.in/opinion/bihar-caste-census-stay-complicates-it-for-other-states-onus-is-now-on-modi-govt-to-fix-it/1557586/

The only solution to this logjam is for the Union government to take decisive action. *One way would be to conduct a caste census, which would provide accurate data on the caste distribution of the population and allow for better implementation of affirmative action policies*. This move would require a significant logistical effort but it would help shape policies by providing a better understanding of caste demographics in India.

*Another solution would be to amend the Constitution to shift the responsibility for conducting the census to the state or concurrent list.* This would give state governments more power to collect data related to caste and other demographic factors, allowing for better implementation of affirmative action policies at the state level. This move would require a significant constitutional amendment, but it would help resolve the current logjam.

In July 2022, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP P. Wilson wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to shift the census from the Union to the concurrent list. This, he believes, would enable states to conduct their own census and gather empirical data on OBC communities at the local body level.

I have written a letter to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi seeking to shift Census from Union List to Concurrent List by bringing Constitutional Amendment and to break deadlock in implementation of #OBCreservation in Local bodies for last 30years & remedy the injustice done to #OBC 's. pic.twitter.com/t5gGPNRs3T

— P. Wilson (@PWilsonDMK) July 3, 2022


To resolve the issue of caste-based affirmative action policies and provide a better understanding of caste demographics in India, the Union government must act. Decisive action is needed to provide a better future for India’s marginalised communities.

Dilip Mandal is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology. He tweets @Profdilipmandal. Views are personal.

(Edited by Ratan Priya)


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📌Responsibility of the Union government

*These are four prime reasons for which caste census or any other matter related to census must remain in the domain of the Union government.*

📌Census operations fall under the Union list and cannot be conducted by states unless the Constitution is amended.

📌The Census Act 1948 gives legal sanctity to the census and lays down guidelines for conducting it. A survey conducted by state governments may not have such legal restrictions, and hence, can be rigged easily

📌The Census Commissioner has a long history of conducting population enumeration and has developed expertise required to conduct the census, which will be a tough and complex task for state governments.

📌Any census or survey conducted by states may lead to controversies, allegations and counter allegations. It may not have the sanctity and authenticity of the decennial census conducted by the Census Commissioner.



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