The Bihar government, from Saturday, has begun with its caste census, under which the people will be asked about their caste identities. From April, the information about the public’s skills will also be collected. In the first phase of the two-phased caste census during 7 to 21 January, houses will be counted. And in the second phase, from April 1 to 30th, the people will be asked about their caste and skills. The government will spend a total of 500 crore rupees for the caste census.
The report of the same will be issued in June. The 204 different caste identities found in the state of Bihar are being counted, and prior to this, caste census had taken place back during the British Raj, in the year 1931, after which no such census took place in Bihar till now. The central government had conducted a census in 2011, after which an economic-social survey had taken place, but the data were not revealed. In the rural areas too, ward-wise counting will take place, similar to the urban regions. 2 lakh workers will conduct this survey on the 14-crore population of Bihar.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that a caste census will help in the country’s development and the upliftment of every section. However, the leader of opposition, Vijay Kumar Sinha, in the Vidhan Sabha, said that Muslims should also be involved in the census along with the Hindus, with which the correct number of Muslims will be found out.
Economist NK Chaudhary has said that caste sentiment can once again spread in the state after the Mandal Commission, and while this will facilitate political polarization, but the society can get divided.
