Caste-based census issue to be decided by GoM

Moving cautiously, the government today decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to take a view on the politically-sensitive question of including caste in the census.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, again saw divergent views being expressed, with some ministers favouring it while some others expressing reservations, sources said.

Those who spoke on the issue at the meeting included Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Veerappa Moily, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Sports Minister M S Gill, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik.

Sibal and Gill expressed reservations on including castes in census as the exercise has already begun, the sources said.

Moily, who has been vocal votary for inclusion of castes in census, said castes could easily be included in round two and three of the exercise when the work on National Population Register begins.

Wasnik is also believed to have favoured inclusion of caste in the census.

Sharma, who had spoken against inclusion of castes in census, today presented a balanced view on the sensitive subject.

The Cabinet then decided that a GoM should take a view on the issue, the sources said. The GoM is likely to be headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Sources said the GoM would also finalise the modalities involved if castes are to be included in census.

While no time-frame has been set, the general feeling among the ministers was that the GoM should come out with a decision early.

The Cabinet, which first discussed the issue at length on May 4, has been divided on it.

The Home Ministry is understood to have opined that the present exercise of enumeration should go on and caste could be included later at the time of taking biometric samples.

Several political parties, including Samajwadi Party, RJD and JD(U), have been pressing for caste-based census but the government is moving cautiously on the politically-sensitive matter.