Caste census gets the nod

Enumeration of castes in the ongoing Census process may now become a reality as the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the issue, headed by the finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, has given its assent.

Sources closely linked to the meeting of the GoM, which was held here late on Wednesday evening, said caste enumeration would be taken up at the biometric stage of the Census. This stage, in which photographing, fingerprinting and iris-mapping of Indian residents will be done for the creation of a National Population Register (NPR), will begin some time early next year, they added.

The decision of the GoM will be referred to the Union Cabinet to take a final call on the issue, the sources said, adding that the decision “was unanimous”.

After parties like the SP, RJD and JD(U) had demanded inclusion of caste in the Census during the second phase of the Budget Session last year, the government had promised on the floor of the Lok Sabha that it “would consider” the demand and take “appropriate action” shortly.

In June, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, set up the GoM to look into the demand as consensus eluded the Union Cabinet on at least two occasions. Last week, the BJP broadly left it to the government to take a decision.

The move comes after the GoM discussed responses from various political parties on the issue.