Centre must release caste-based census data: CPI(M) leader

The Centre should make public caste-based data from the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) to reveal the real picture of financial status of those belonging to the backward classes, senior CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali said in Delhi on Saturday. During a session on ‘neo-liberal policies and Dalits’, organised by the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, to mark the 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the speakers demanded that the Centre offer reservation to Dalits in private sector and Delhi Government make 16.75 per cent “actual” budgetary allocation for Dalits under the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan.

“The government survey says that monthly income of 75 out of 100 families in rural India is less than Rs 5,000. Now, how they must be adjusting in such a small amount? “This survey is based on caste. But the government said it will not tell which castes the poor ones belong to. The government said if they reveal so, there will be an explosion.

Brothers and sisters, this blast should take place. The poor have been looted in such a way over the past 30 years that whatever they had is not left with them,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali said at the meet.

Ali said that neo-liberal economic policies have created inequality across the world over the past three decades. It is not only between poor and rich, but also women, she said, adding social inequality has been a big truth in India.

She said perusal of such policies will mean lead to Government’s minimal role in welfare of poor majority of whom are from backward class.

“Neo-liberalism will rule market. Those who want to implement the policies they want to slowly slash government’s welfare work for the poor (mostly from backward class). The relief work will be stopped. And decisions will be left to market,” she said.

Ali claimed Ambedkar was of the view that the market did not have heart and affection for people and did not understand their pain.