CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to integrate caste census with the upcoming national decadal census, stating that the crucial caste-related data outcomes would touch the lives of crores of deserving people in the country and it should not be delayed any further.
“I have no doubt that this initiative will be a monumental step to take the benefits of development to the most vulnerable sections and build a stronger, more inclusive India,” he said in a letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media.
The chief minister said governments in some states like Bihar had made good attempts and some others had announced such initiatives. Although these state specific initiatives and their data outcomes were very useful in providing insights into the society and its needs, they lacked the advantage of a nation-wide comparability of inputs and processes, he said
“In addition, they lack the statutory stamp without legislative backing for such data collection since census as a subject is on the Union list. Hence, we are of the considered view that only a statutory Census of India, with critical caste-related data inputs, would be able to provide an appropriate platform for upholding social justice,” Stalin said.
Integrating the caste census with the proposed national decadal census alone could provide comprehensive and reliable data on the caste composition of society and its reflection on the socio-economic indicators, the chief minister said.
“This will enable evidence-based policy making, helping all of us ensure an equitable and inclusive development. Undertaking this task concurrently with the decadal census would not only ensure comparability of data across the nation but also optimize resource utilization,” the CM said.
In the last 90 years, the demographic and socio-economic landscape of the country has undergone many changes. But the underprivileged sections of society continued to remain backward despite numerous past policy actions, the chief minister said. “It is vital that contemporary data derived from a common standard process at the national level is cumulated to address all the pressing issues related to social justice, equity and inclusivity,” Stalin said.
“I have no doubt that this initiative will be a monumental step to take the benefits of development to the most vulnerable sections and build a stronger, more inclusive India,” he said in a letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media.
The chief minister said governments in some states like Bihar had made good attempts and some others had announced such initiatives. Although these state specific initiatives and their data outcomes were very useful in providing insights into the society and its needs, they lacked the advantage of a nation-wide comparability of inputs and processes, he said
“In addition, they lack the statutory stamp without legislative backing for such data collection since census as a subject is on the Union list. Hence, we are of the considered view that only a statutory Census of India, with critical caste-related data inputs, would be able to provide an appropriate platform for upholding social justice,” Stalin said.
Integrating the caste census with the proposed national decadal census alone could provide comprehensive and reliable data on the caste composition of society and its reflection on the socio-economic indicators, the chief minister said.
“This will enable evidence-based policy making, helping all of us ensure an equitable and inclusive development. Undertaking this task concurrently with the decadal census would not only ensure comparability of data across the nation but also optimize resource utilization,” the CM said.
In the last 90 years, the demographic and socio-economic landscape of the country has undergone many changes. But the underprivileged sections of society continued to remain backward despite numerous past policy actions, the chief minister said. “It is vital that contemporary data derived from a common standard process at the national level is cumulated to address all the pressing issues related to social justice, equity and inclusivity,” Stalin said.
