Caste census will help backward classes, say BJP leaders

Hailing the Union government’s decision to include caste factors in the next census, BJP leaders said that the exercise would largely help backward communities across the country as it would provide accurate data about the numerical strength and socio-economic status of each community in the country.

Addressing a seminar on the problems and prospects of caste census in Kalaburagi on Sunday, the BJP leaders, including MP for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Kota Srinivas Poojary and former Minister Pramod Madhwaraj, held that the caste census would eventually help the backward classes.

“It will provide accurate data on backward communities and help ensure rightful access to facilities and benefits. The Congress ruled the country for decades, but not once did it attempt a caste-based enumeration. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has now taken the bold step of conducting a caste census to ensure justice for backward communities,” they said.

Mr. Madhwaraj said that backward classes would be the first beneficiaries from the caste census.

“Backward classes who played a key role in shaping India’s social, economic and cultural heritage are in distress now. The caste census is essential to know their exact conditions at present. The State government which conducted a caste survey 10 years ago by spending around ₹165 crore has put the report in the dust bin. Now the Union government is conducting a caste census which would provide us with accurate socio-economic condition of each community in the society. Backward classes would be the first to be benefited from the caste census,” Mr. Madhwaraj said.

Vadiraj, a resource person from Social Harmony Forum, appealed to the Karnataka government to give up the exercise to conduct a fresh caste survey and support the Union government in its initiatives to include caste-related factors in the upcoming census.

“The State government already conducted a caste survey 10 years ago. It did not act upon the report. Now, it is going to conduct another survey. Instead of doing that, it should better support the Union government’s initiatives,” he said.