New Delhi: The Congress party has expressed concerns regarding the delay in the scheduled national census in India, emphasizing the necessity of including a caste count to facilitate social, economic, and political justice. This issue was highlighted amidst the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming census, marking its first since 2012, while India has not initiated its decennial census, which was due in 2021.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, addressed this issue in a press briefing on Monday. Ramesh criticized the current administration for its lack of transparency regarding the census schedule, particularly at a time when India faces significant political and economic challenges. He noted the detrimental impact of relying on outdated 2011 census data, which he claimed has left over 10 crore Indians without crucial benefits under national welfare schemes.

Ramesh further stressed the importance of a comprehensive caste census, pointing out that while Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been counted every decade since 1951, there has been no similar nationwide effort for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other castes. “Only through a caste census can we ensure meaningful social, economic, and political justice in education and employment,” he asserted.

In addition, Ramesh questioned the motives behind the delay by the Prime Minister, suggesting political reasons might be influencing the postponement of the census, which is critical for addressing caste-based disparities. The Congress party, as per Ramesh, is pushing for immediate action to initiate the census process to better address and represent caste demographics in India’s socio-political framework.

A caste-based census could potentially alter the understanding of demographic shifts and influence political strategies and mobilization, particularly among lower castes and OBCs, which could reshape the electoral dynamics in the country.