GoM to meet tomorrow to examine caste-based census issue

A Group of Ministers will meet here tomorrow to consider the issue of inclusion of caste in census as demanded by some political parties.

Government had last month decided to set up the GoM on the controversial issue after consensus eluded it at two meetings of the Union Cabinet.

Several political parties, including Samajwadi Party, RJD and JD(U), have been pressing for inclusion of caste in the census.

The issue had figured prominently in the Budget Session of Parliament when the Prime Minister had assured the members that government would take their views into account before deciding on the matter.

The BJP now appears to have reservations on its support to inclusion of caste in census in the backdrop of internal differences and the RSS taking a strong line against it.

In the Budget session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha had witnessed a debate on the issue and several BJP leaders including its deputy leader Gopinath Munde had favoured such an inclusion to further the cause of social justice and empowerment.

The GoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will have to take an expeditious decision as the second part of the census exercise is scheduled to begin in September

Other members of the GoM are Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Urban Housing Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Inclusion of caste in the census was last done in the country in 1931.