New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu state assembly on Wednesday (June 26) has unanimously passed a resolution urging the Central government to initiate the census work immediately, including a caste-based population census. This move is significant as it comes after a long delay in conducting the census, which was initially scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution, which was proposed by chief minister M.K. Stalin, emphasises the importance of conducting a caste-based census, which has been a long-standing demand of various political parties and social organisations in the state. The census data is crucial for the government to formulate policies and schemes for the welfare of various communities, especially the marginalised and backward classes.
“This House considers that caste-based population census is essential to formulate policies in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities in education, economy and employment to every citizen of India,” the resolution stated.
Stalin, in his speech, highlighted the significance of caste-based census data in ensuring equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. He pointed out that the lack of accurate data has resulted in the neglect of certain communities, which has perpetuated social and economic inequalities.
“This House considers that caste-based population census is essential to formulate policies in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities in education, economy and employment to every citizen of India,” Stalin was quoted as saying by Businessline.
He added: “This House, therefore, unanimously urge the Centre to immediately commence the census work, which is due from the year 2021, along with the caste-based population this time.”
Also read: Why Caste Census? The Answer Lies in Wealth Disparities, Quality of Neighbourhoods
During the debate, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) member R. Arul expressed dissent with the chief minister’s resolution, suggesting that the state government had the power to conduct a caste-based census on its own. However, law minister S. Regupathy countered that while the state government could collect caste data under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, the Census Act took precedence and superseded this authority, The Hindu reported.
The resolution received widespread support from MLAs across various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and was subsequently adopted by the house. Notably, the principal opposition party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which also supported the resolution was absent during the vote, as its members had been suspended earlier for disrupting the proceedings, Economic Times reported.
The demand for a caste census was one of the main issues raised by the Opposition and especially the INDIA Alliance in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Politicians such as Stalin and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly demanded a nationwide caste census. Gandhi had even said that if the Congress comes to power, the first task the new government would undertake would be conducting the caste census.
