Congress MP Gogoi pushes for caste census in Assam on lines of Bihar, Rajasthan
Congress MP Gogoi pushes for caste census in Assam on lines of Bihar, Rajasthan
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s announcement of a caste-based census in the state has not only drawn attention to the importance of such initiatives but has also sparked discussions and calls for similar efforts in other regions of India. One such advocate for a caste-based census is Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is now pushing for this type of survey in Assam, following in the footsteps of Bihar and Rajasthan.
Gogoi’s primary objective is to ensure that all backward communities in Assam receive the recognition, dignity, and justice they rightfully deserve. By advocating for a caste-based census, he aims to collect comprehensive data that can be used to formulate policies and initiatives tailored to address the specific needs and challenges faced by marginalized and disadvantaged communities in Assam.
This call for a caste-based census in Assam reflects a broader national conversation about the importance of gathering caste-specific data to inform government programs and strategies aimed at promoting social equity and inclusivity. It remains to be seen how this initiative will progress and whether it will gain support and traction in Assam’s political landscape.
Gogoi emphasized the importance of conducting a caste-based census to gather comprehensive data on the population’s social and economic composition, particularly focusing on Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities. This data can be instrumental in formulating policies and initiatives to address the specific needs and challenges faced by these marginalized groups.
The push for a caste-based census is seen as a step toward ensuring equitable representation and opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities. It remains to be seen whether this call for a caste-based census in Assam will gain traction and lead to concrete action in the state.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made a significant announcement on Friday, following the example set by Bihar, regarding the initiation of a caste-based census in the state. Gehlot shared this decision with the media after a state party meeting held in Jaipur.
During the press conference, Chief Minister Gehlot revealed that the idea for conducting a caste-based census had been proposed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Raipur session of the Congress party. The decision aligns with the Congress party’s objective to gather comprehensive data on the caste composition of the population, a crucial step towards addressing social and economic disparities.
Gehlot emphasized that the Rajasthan government is committed to conducting a caste-based census similar to Bihar’s approach. He further highlighted the importance of ensuring that the participation in the census reflects the population distribution accurately, allowing for more equitable representation and resource allocation.
This move towards a caste-based census in Rajasthan is in line with the broader discussions and efforts within the country to gather data that can help formulate policies and initiatives aimed at addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by marginalized communities.
The release of the caste-based survey report in Bihar on October 2, conducted under the leadership of Nitish Kumar’s Mahagathbandhan government, marked a significant development in the state. Notably, the Congress is an ally of the government in Bihar, and the release of this report underscores the importance of this data collection effort for the ruling coalition.
Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, emphasized the significance of conducting a caste-based census, highlighting the role it plays in understanding the caste-wise distribution of the population. He stressed that social security measures and special schemes can only be effectively implemented when policymakers have comprehensive data on the population’s social composition, especially in a country with diverse castes and occupations.
In a similar vein, in Chhattisgarh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced that if the Congress is re-elected to power in the state, a caste census will be conducted, mirroring the initiative undertaken in Bihar. This demonstrates a growing consensus within the Congress party about the importance of gathering caste-based data to inform policies and programs that address the specific needs of different social groups.
The focus on caste-based surveys and data collection is indicative of efforts to promote social equity and inclusivity by tailoring government initiatives to the unique challenges faced by various castes and communities in India.
