‘We welcome this decision’: Environment minister Eshwar Khandre on caste census

DAVANAGERE: Welcoming the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census, Environment minister Eshwar Khandre said that there are 90-100 sub-castes in the state, all of which have been codified and brought to the government’s attention.

“We welcome this decision. We have discussed this in the Mahasabha. There are 90-100 sub-castes, some of which have left. All of them are codified and brought to the government’s attention”, Khandre said.

Census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Constitution, listed at item 69 in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule. On April 30, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, highlighted concerns about the transparency and intent of some states’ own caste censuses, claiming that some censuses were conducted “purely from a political angle.”

“While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey,” Vaishnaw said.

Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana have already conducted a caste census in their respective state. Telangana has also implemented a 42 per cent backwards class reservation for people in the state.

The Karnataka State Commission for Backwards Classes has also submitted the caste census (socio, economic and educational survey) report to the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet. The caste census report, if released, will be the second by a Congress-ruled state, after Telangana. (ANI)