Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge Demand Overhaul of Caste Census Questionnaire

In a significant political move, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, advocating for the cancellation of the existing caste census questionnaire. The leaders have raised concerns about the current methodology, arguing that it lacks precision and clarity.

Gandhi, who leads the Congress in the Lok Sabha, and Kharge, the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, criticized the government’s decision to employ an open-ended question format for capturing caste data. They emphasized that this approach could result in inconsistencies, as the same caste might be identified using various names, sub-castes, or regional terminologies, thereby complicating the accuracy of the census.

The two leaders stressed the importance of a meticulously designed questionnaire that relies on a verified list of castes to ensure an accurate assessment of the demographic and socio-economic status of different communities. They warned that the current structure may lead to fragmented data, making it challenging to derive accurate conclusions about the population distribution and the socio-economic conditions of various groups.

Kharge and Gandhi further pointed out that the existing questionnaire’s lack of inclusion of the term “backward class” poses a significant hurdle. This exclusion could severely affect efforts to gauge the true size and needs of marginalized communities, which in turn may hinder government initiatives related to education, employment, and social welfare. The leaders expressed concern that such shortcomings could disproportionately impact backward, extremely backward, and other disadvantaged groups, ultimately affecting social justice efforts across the country.

The debate surrounding the caste census is not just a matter of statistical accuracy; it carries broader implications for policy-making and the allocation of resources aimed at uplifting underprivileged communities in India. With the caste census being a crucial tool for understanding the demographics of the nation, ensuring its accuracy and reliability is paramount for the equitable development of all sections of society.

Source: scroll.in