Telangana begins caste census Photo credit: Santosh Kumar/HT via Getty Images
Telangana will conduct caste census from today. The Telangana government has announced that the survey will go to the doorsteps of people. The aim is to collect economic and social data on people on caste basis and on the basis of this identify those who are socially, economically and educationally backward in various sections of society. The state government has set a target of completing the survey within a month. In addition to government officials, congressional leaders will also actively participate in this investigation to inspire people and provide assistance to officials.
Each surveyor will visit about 150 homes and ask people more than 50 questions. The state government is confident that on the basis of this report, welfare and development schemes for the weaker sections of the society can be effectively implemented.
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Appreciating the move, Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said it was not just a caste survey but an effort to create a framework for development. He admitted that there may be some flaws in the state government’s caste survey but they will be ironed out. Rahul Gandhi said, “We must understand that discrimination is very serious in India and it also affects our Constitution.”
Targeting Prime Minister Modi
Rahul Gandhi also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he wanted to know why the Prime Minister has not made it clear that he wants to end discrimination in India. “Why is the Prime Minister afraid to ask how many Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis are in corporate, judiciary and media?” he asked. Rahul Gandhi said he was not in favor of the “bureaucratic caste census” being devised by government officials. Instead, they want Dalits, OBCs and other backward classes to decide for themselves what questions should be asked in this survey.
