The CPIML has welcomed the process of Caste census which has now begun in Bihar. Many political parties have earlier demanded from the Modi government in the centre to hold a nationwide caste census but that was rejected by the BJP government. Bihar state secretary of CPIML, comrade Kunal has criticised the BJP’s hypocrisy as the latter is now issuing statements inside Bihar in favour of the caste census. If this party is honest then the demand of caste census would have taken up on a countrywide scale, he said.
The caste census will give a better exposure to the socio-economic status of various sections in the population which will be helpful in devising policies and developmental planning. CPIML has also demanded to hold this census among castes in all religions as there are many castes, especially among Muslims, which are not officially considered and should be included now.
Comrade Kunal has also cautioned regarding the drawbacks and errors which were noticed by various prominent citizens and organisations in the surveys done earlier, SECC of 2011 was one such example, and these mistakes must be avoided this time. Many people are homeless and living on public lands; they must be included in this census along with a separate column informing their landless/homeless status, he said.
The CPIML has also demanded that the census should be done through a dedicated staff and the teachers who are generally given this task for no additional remuneration, and compromising with the quality education for the students at the same time, must not be engaged in this endeavour.
