Government should immediately start decadal census, caste census: Mallikarjun Kharge in RS
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asked the government to immediately start the decadal census as well as caste census, saying a large number of people are being left out of welfare schemes due to the delay.
Expressing concern over the delay in conducting the decadal census during the Zero Hour in the House, the senior Congress leader said India has been conducting a census every 10 years since 1881.
It was conducted even during wars, emergencies, or other crises.
He recalled that back in 1931, a caste census was conducted along with the regular census.
Right before the 1931 census, Mahatma Gandhi had said that just like 'we need periodic medical checkups to assess our health, a census is the most important checkup for a nation', Kharge stated.
He said the census is a crucial exercise and involves a large number of people who collect data not just on population but also on employment, family structures, socio-economic conditions, and several other key aspects.
Even during major events like World War II and the India-Pakistan war of 1971-72, the census was conducted.
"But it is unfortunate that for the first time in history, the government has made a record delay (in conducting census)", he said.
Kharge further said that along with the general census, a caste census is also possible because the government already collects data on Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), so it could collect data on other castes as well.
"But the government is silent on both the census and caste census," he said.
He noted that 81 percent of the countries in the world have successfully completed censuses despite Covid.
He said no clear statement is being made by the government regarding census in India.
Kharge said this year's budget has allocated only Rs 575 crore for the census which shows the government is unwilling to conduct it, Kharge said, and added delaying the census has serious consequences.
Without accurate and updated data, policies become arbitrary and ineffective.
He said several crucial surveys and welfare programs — such as the Consumer Survey, National Family Health Survey, Periodic Labour Force Survey, National Food Security Act, and National Social Assistance Programme — rely on census data.
Due to the delay in the census, a large number of people are being left out of welfare schemes.
Policymakers are making decisions without reliable and up-to-date data.
"Thus, I urge the government to immediately start the decadal census. Caste census and census should be conducted at the earliest," the senior Congress leader said.
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Assam to lift all cases against Koch Rajbongshis in Foreigners' Tribunals: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati, Apr 4 (PTI): The Assam cabinet has decided to lift all cases pending against people from the Koch Rajbongshi community in the Foreigners' Tribunals, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday.
They will also no longer carry the tag of 'D' or doubtful voters, he said.
''There are 28,000 cases pending in different Foreigners' Tribunals in the state against people of the community. The cabinet has taken a historic decision of lifting the cases with immediate effect,'' Sarma said at a press conference here after the cabinet meeting.
The government believes that the Koch Rajbongshis are an indigenous community of the state and they are an inextricable part of ''our social and cultural fabric'', he asserted.
The people of this community are poor and have suffered a lot over the years, he said.
''They will no longer carry the tag of foreigners or ‘D’ voters,'' the CM said.
Foreigners Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies, particularly in Assam, established to determine if a person residing in India is a "foreigner" as defined by the Foreigners Act of 1946, based on the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order of 1964.
These tribunals are designed to address matters related to citizenship and the presence of “foreigners” in India, specifically focusing on cases where someone is suspected of being an illegal immigrant.
There are 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals across Assam.
The Koch Rajbongshis have a sizeable presence in Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and parts of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, and they demand Scheduled Tribe status.
