May 3: The Centre is not keen on a caste-based Census fearing that it can lead to a division of the society at a time when the Opposition parties are insisting on collection of data on castes.
Union law minister M. Veerapa Moily on Monday said there is need for a caste-based Census in the country but maintained that it was not possible at this stage as the process has already started.
“Now the Census (2011) has already started and formats are being finalised. So how it would be done at this stage,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
“I had written to the Prime Minister six months back for it (caste-based Census),” Mr Moily said.
“After 1931, no caste-based data was prepared and the Centre also does not have any caste-based data of its own. Government depends upon states for it,” Mr Moily said adding, “It is required for implementation of different schemes and employment programmes for the OBCs.
But the demand for the collection of data on caste during the on-going country-wide Census was voiced by several Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon. But perhaps the loudest voices that were raised in this regard were those of the Yadav trio comprising Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav.
The triumvirate, all of whom occupy front row seats in the Lok Sabha, were vociferous in their demand in the LS that caste too should be part of the data collection during the Census. All three who profess to be champions of the backward classes found support in their demand from various other parties, among them Mayawati’s BSP, the DMK, AIADMK, and the Shiv Sena.
Interestingly, the CPI-M’s Basudeb Acharia while stating that his party does not believe in dividing society on the basis of caste added, “As in the case of the SCs and STs, information should be collected on OBCs too.” As for the CPI, it described the issue as a “sensitive” one and demanded an all-party meeting on it.
It was the BJP which initially raised the issue of having a debate on the issue of including caste in the Census soon after the House resumed its sitting in the afternoon. Leader of the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj said that all parties had given notice seeking a discussion on the issue.
She said that there are poor and backward people in the country. She noted that reservation are given on the basis of estimates and that it was a matter of shame that there was no separate column to collect data on such people.
Responding to demand from various parties that a discussion be held in the House on inclusion of caste in the Census data collection, Union minister of parliamentary affairs, Pawan Kumar Bansal told the House: “The government is ready for a debate on this...the reply would be on Tuesday or Wednesday.”
Prior to Mr Bansal’s assurance, Sharad Yadav alleged that tribals and backwards being harassed in the country. He wanted to know why the government is hesitating on caste inclusion in the Census when even rivers, nullahs, trees, peacocks, etc are counted.
Lalu Prasad, while stating that “caste is a reality”, added, “we’re not asking for reservations...it’s not a backwards versus forwards issue”. He further demanded that caste information form part of the Census exercise.
The BSP’s Dara Singh Chauhan, echoing Sharad Yadav’s views on trees, plants and animals being counted, wondered if human beings ranked lower than animals. He then reminded the House that his party’s motto has always been :”Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, utni uski hissedari” which roughly translated means that a group has as much share as its numbers).