caste census in bihar( bihar )

Caste Census: The work of caste census is going on in Bihar. ( bihar ) Under this, the departmental employees are going door to door and conducting the census. Along with the employees, teachers and Anganwadi workers have also been engaged in the census. Under the census, numbers were put on the houses in the first phase. At the same time, in the second phase, the calculation is being done by asking people about their caste. Let us tell you that for a long time the demand for caste census was being raised in many states of the country including Bihar. After the 2011 census, a report was made on the basis of caste, but it was not released.

Before Bihar, caste census has also been done in Rajasthan and Karnataka. In Bihar also, the process of caste census has started from January 7, 2023. The Hindu army had filed a petition against this in the Supreme Court. It was rejected by the apex court. The first question that comes to mind on hearing about caste or caste census is why it is being done? Then how will the caste census happen? If it is completed, then how will it be known that what is the population of people of which caste in Bihar? We are giving answers to some such questions.

Why caste census is being done in Bihar
Most of the political parties in Bihar were demanding caste census for a long time. He says that due to the caste census, the exact number of Dalit and backward class people living in the state will be known. This will make it easier to make special plans to take them forward. If the correct ethnic population is known, then effective plans will be made according to them in the state. A proposal related to conducting caste census was presented in Bihar Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on 18 February 2019 and 27 February 2020. This proposal was supported by all the parties including BJP, RJD, JDU.
Why was the center against the caste census
The central government was against conducting the census in Bihar. The Center had also filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in this regard. In this, the Center had said that there should not be a Jeetiyat census because counting the castes is a long and difficult task. Even after this, Nitish Kumar’s government had announced to conduct caste census. The Bihar government has also promised to complete this work by the end of May 2023.

Political impact of caste census
If the caste census data becomes public before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, then Nitish and his Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav can get the biggest benefit. The parties of both these leaders are known only for doing caste politics in Bihar. On the contrary, the sensitive caste census data can give rise to a new era of Mandal and Kamandal politics. Bihar government also says that due to non-availability of data related to non-SC and non-ST, it is difficult to estimate the population of other backward classes. According to the census conducted in the year 1931, the OBC population was estimated at 52 percent. At the same time, those demanding caste census say that SC and ST were given reservation on the basis of their population. At the same time, due to not knowing the exact number of OBCs, they could not get the benefit. Therefore, caste-based census is necessary to revise the quota.
How caste census is being done in Bihar
Under the caste census in Bihar, the counting of houses was started in the first phase. It started from the VIP areas of Patna. In this phase all the houses were given permanent numbers. In the second phase, caste and economic census is being done. In this, the level of education of people, job, car, mobile, efficiency in which work, means of income, number of earning members in the family, number of dependents, original caste, sub-caste, sub-sub-caste, number of castes in the village, caste certificate Questions related to are being asked. The responsibility of conducting caste and economic census has been given to the General Administration Department of Bihar. DM has been appointed as its nodal officer at the district level. It is estimated that Rs 500 crore will be spent on this entire process.

What about those living outside Bihar?
Due to employment, people living in other states outside Bihar are being contacted through telephone for a long time. After this, the number is also being registered on his house. In the second phase, people will have to tell their caste and the second phase of caste census will run smoothly again. In this, the name of the head of all the families living inside a house has to be entered. Family number is being given to the family in the form of house number.

can it do any harm
According to political analysts, the issue of reservation from the caste census can once again catch fire. As soon as this happens, there can be a storm in the country. If this gives rise to the issue of reservation, then the ‘upper caste’ can stand against it. In fact, if reservation is increased due to caste census, then people belonging to forward castes will suffer the most. In such a situation, this whole matter can lead to polarization between forward and backward, which will also affect the vote bank. Broadly speaking, this type of voice is being raised in many states of the country, but in the most vocal manner, an atmosphere is being created in its favor in Bihar and efforts are also being made to take political advantage of it.