Numerous inhabitants residing in the regions of Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Gaya in Bihar have come forward with claims that they were not included in the recent caste-based census conducted by the state government. Bihar's government publicly disclosed the census data on Monday, providing a detailed breakdown of caste groups and communities' populations in the state.
Despite the government's assertion of "comprehensive coverage" in the caste census, residents from at least three districts—Darbhanga, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur—have reported that they were overlooked during the census survey.
In Muzaffarpur, residents from an area comprising over 50 families have stated that no census officials visited their locality. Individuals like Ramesh Karori, Parvati Karori, and Chhotu Karori, among others, informed Aaj Tak TV that they were not approached to participate in the caste census. Another local resident mentioned that many families in their neighborhood are frequently absent for extended periods, yet no census enumerators came to record caste data.
In Darbhanga, locals have made similar allegations, asserting that no officials visited their residences for the caste census. Individuals like Avinash Kumar, a Bhumihar, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, and Siddharth Jha told Aaj Tak TV that their homes were not visited during the caste census. Siddharth Jha further noted that despite having previously worked in the agricultural department, no government official visited his residence during the census.
Residents of Gaya have also expressed skepticism about the caste census, suggesting that it appeared to have been conducted over the phone, as no government officials visited their homes. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Shailendra Kumar Trivedi, and Ravi Shekhar Sharma all voiced their disbelief regarding the census methodology. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Bodh Gaya, criticized the census process, stating, "It seems as if someone came and sat in one place and called on the phone to conduct the census."
On Monday, the Bihar government unveiled the results of the caste-based census that commenced in January of the current year. The census data indicated that the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) make up 63 percent of the state's population. Additionally, the census revealed that Scheduled Castes account for over 19 percent of the total population of 13 crore, while Scheduled Tribes constitute 1.68 percent. The upper castes, commonly referred to as 'savannas,' comprise 15.52 percent of Bihar's population.
In response to the census findings, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the results and determine the subsequent actions to be taken.
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