Caste Census Begins in Bihar; CM Nitish Says it must be conducted on National Level

Patna: Bihar government started Caste Census in the state on Saturday. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said this exercise must be conducted at the national level as it will benefit all sections of society.

“After completion of the enumeration exercise…, the final report will be sent to Centre also,” Nitish Kumar said.

This caste-based census taken up in Bihar is popularly known as ‘Jaati Aadharit Ganana’. Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the data from caste-based census will provide scientific data for better formulation of the budget and social welfare schemes. He alleged that as the BJP is anti-poor, it is opposed to this caste-based survey in Bihar.

Under this hyped census, data about the number of all households, castes, sub-castes, and religions will be conducted in two stages in Bihar. The financial status of all people will also be recorded. The exercise will be completed by May 2023 and around Rs 500 crore will be spent on it.

The caste census is a major point of tussle between the Nitish Kumar government and the Central government. Bihar government demands caste census to undertaken at the earliest, while the Central government is not ready to undertake caste-based enumeration other than the SCs and STs. So, the Bihar government has decided to have its own caste-based census in the state.

In 2010, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had agreed to conduct the exercise at the national level in 2010, but the data collected during the census was never processed.