Cong gives nod to include caste data in census

The Congress brass has decided to include caste-wise data as a part of the government’s ongoing exercise to compile the census details by 2011. Top sources in the party said the objections of “practical difficulties” could be “sorted out” and the party says such a database will provide an accurate political and social landscape.

The caste data will only reveal the headcount and not give any detailed analysis of the economic and social condition of any castes.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet had decided to refer the issue to a Group of Ministers (GoM). Sources in the Cabinet say this decision was taken purely to allow the Cabinet to concentrate of several other issues.

“A discussion on caste-based census in the Cabinet would have taken at least 8-9 hours as almost every member has to say something on the issue.”

Top sources in the Cabinet said even as the census data collection process had already started, the caste-based data collection can be incorporated at a later stage, perhaps when the government officials go for the second round of survey in early 2011. In the meantime, the data collectors can be given additional training to handle the caste details.

The GoM on caste data will be headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who, is an ardent supporter of including caste data in the census. In Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, except Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, all members showed support for the caste-based census.

Government managers also pointed out that the move could give political benefits to the government, which is treading on uncomfortable majority in the Lok Sabha. As the government needs to pass crucial legislation like the civil nuclear liability Bill, the caste-based census is likely to garner support of the Yadav lobby — Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav.

A section of the party also says the caste census may also provide a leeway if the government finally pushes for the contentious Women’s Reservation Bill, opposed by the Yadav lobby.

Congress sources pointed out that the party’s own allies — the DMK and Trinamool Congress — have also stood behind the government for inclusion of caste data in the ongoing census. Trinamool Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay, told Business Standard: “We will support the government’s decision in this case. We feel when there are acts like the Right to Information, there is no reason to suppress caste concentration in the country.”

Earlier, Home minister P Chidambaram had pointed out that there were technical and practical difficulties in gathering caste information immediately.

The forms currently circulated for collecting census data also do not include any caste column. But Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that during the second round of collection, an additional column can be added to the forms.

The finance minister had also pointed out that if the caste data collection was done separately at a later stage, it would amount to a huge expenditure. The government has sanctioned Rs 2,200 crore for the census 2011 so far.