Current caste census process is flawed, Centre must correct it immediately: Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur, Aug 25 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, has termed the ongoing process of the caste census as completely flawed and questioned the intentions of the Central Government. He said the situation does not appear to be a coincidence but rather a well-thought-out strategy of the Centre to undermine the very objective of the caste census and prevent accurate data from emerging.

Gehlot said that when the caste census was announced, it was welcomed by everyone. However, the manner in which confusion is now being created raises serious questions about the intentions of the Modi Government. He said the government has opted for an “open-ended question” format, under which each person’s caste will be recorded exactly as they state it.

In India, the same caste is known by different names, sub-castes and linguistic variations across regions. As a result, a single caste could end up being divided into thousands of different names, making the final data unreliable and practically unusable.

Gehlot said the most serious concern is that the term “Other Backward Classes (OBCs)” has not even been included in the census.

Consequently, it would not be possible to accurately determine the population of the Backward Classes. He said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, demanding that a comprehensive list of castes be prepared in advance. He pointed out that similar approaches were adopted in the caste surveys conducted in Telangana in 2024 and Bihar in 2022.

Gehlot demanded that the Central Government immediately withdraw the flawed process and formulate a new questionnaire after consultations with political parties, experts and the public.

He said the caste census can only fulfil its purpose if it produces accurate and meaningful data reflecting the country’s social realities. Such data is essential for framing effective policies aimed at social justice, equitable representation and the welfare of disadvantaged sections of society.

–IANS

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