Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the need to "incorporate a caste census" into the forthcoming national decennial census. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin emphasized the significance of aggregating modern data through a standardized, nationwide process to tackle the prevailing concerns related to social justice, fairness, and inclusivity, given the transformations in the country's demographic and socio-economic landscape over the past 90 years.Â
The letter also acknowledged the recent caste-based census undertaken by Bihar and noted that "certain state governments, such as Bihar, have taken commendable steps in this direction by successfully conducting surveys based on caste." However, they lack the benefit of nationwide consistency in terms of data and methodologies. According to Stalin, "Only a statutory Census of India, encompassing critical caste-related data inputs, can serve as an appropriate framework for upholding principles of social justice."
In conclusion, the letter earnestly appealed for the integration of the caste census with the upcoming national decennial census. It's noteworthy that various opposition parties, including the Congress, have been advocating for a comprehensive caste census to be conducted across the country.
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