Congress Supports Bihar’s Caste Census Data, Calls for Comprehensive National Caste Census for Social Justice
Congress Advocates National Caste Census for Social Justice and Empowerment: Bihar's Caste Survey Findings Spark Demand
New Delhi, October 2: The Congress party has extended its support to the Bihar government’s release of caste census findings and has called upon the central government to initiate a nationwide caste census. The objective behind this call is to ensure social justice and lay a solid foundation for programs aimed at social empowerment.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi highlighted the significance of the Bihar caste census, revealing that it demonstrates that 84% of the state’s population comprises OBCs, SCs, and STs, emphasizing the need for their representation to align with their population.
“Out of 90 secretaries of the central government, only 3 are OBC, who handle only 5% of India’s budget. Therefore, it is important to know the caste statistics of India…,” Gandhi stated in a post on social media.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that while welcoming the Bihar government’s efforts and recalling similar surveys conducted by Congress governments in states like Karnataka, it is imperative that the Union government conducts a national caste census without delay.
“The UPA-2 government had, in fact, completed this Census but its results were not published by the Modi government. Such a Census has become essential for providing a firmer foundation for social empowerment programs and for deepening social justice,” Ramesh emphasized.
The Congress party made it clear that if the current government does not conduct a caste census, it will prioritize the initiative when a Congress government comes into power to ensure that every section of society receives their rightful representation.
The Bihar caste survey findings indicated that OBCs and EBCs together constitute a substantial 63% of the state’s total population, further underscoring the importance of accurate representation in social and political spheres.
In a society striving for equitable participation and social justice, the Congress party believes that a comprehensive caste census is essential to determine the proportional involvement of various groups, advocating for its implementation at the national level.
The Congress party also highlighted its support for similar caste-based surveys conducted by Congress governments in Karnataka, underscoring its commitment to advancing social equity and justice.
