“We can not deny caste-based discrimination in India,” mentioned Jairam Ramesh (File)
The Congress on Sunday asserted {that a} caste census is the one manner to make sure equal alternative for all within the nation.
Congress basic secretary Jairam Ramesh mentioned caste has been a socio-economic actuality of Indian society for hundreds of years. “We can not deny caste-based discrimination in India and the disadvantages imposed by caste at delivery,” he mentioned in a put up on X.
“To make the distribution of financial progress extra equitable, we’d like a survey of the possession of belongings and the illustration of individuals within the establishments of our democracy,” Jairam Ramesh mentioned.
Subsequently, what is required is a caste census mixed with a survey of nationwide belongings and governance techniques, which is up to date sometimes, he asserted within the put up on X.
“This survey of caste teams, nationwide belongings, and illustration in governance techniques — collectively referred to as a complete socio-economic caste census — is the one resolution to make sure an India with equal alternative for all,” the Congress chief mentioned utilizing the hashtag “Ginti Karo”.
Why is the Caste Census a necessity?
1. Caste is a socioeconomic actuality of Indian society and has been for hundreds of years. We can not deny caste-based discrimination in India and the disadvantages imposed by caste at delivery.
2. The caste class within the Census was accomplished away with,… https://t.co/Xl13kBTHnd
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2024
He claimed that the caste class within the Census was accomplished away with, aside from these pertaining to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, starting with the 1951 Census.
“This was thought of needed given the challenges confronted by a newly impartial nation. The final such Census due in 2021 has been repeatedly postpone by the Modi Authorities — so we’re at the moment missing the most recent knowledge even for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,” Ramesh mentioned on X.
In a put up on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge defined the explanation behind asserting “Hissedari Nyay” (Participatory Justice) as a part of its guarantees to individuals forward of the Lok Sabha polls.
“India’s richest 1 per cent take pleasure in 22.6 per cent of nationwide earnings, greater than in the course of the British Raj, whereas the poorest 50 per cent get solely 15 per cent of nationwide earnings. This has occurred solely within the final 10 years of the Modi authorities,” he mentioned.
Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the online value of billionaires grew by greater than 280 per cent between 2014 and 2022, which is 10 instances the expansion charge of nationwide earnings throughout the identical interval.
Then again, about 34 per cent of households in India earn lower than the proposed nationwide degree minimal wage of Rs 375 per day, he mentioned.
“Subsequently, the Congress Get together, underneath ‘Hissedari Nyay’ (Participatory Justice) ensures a complete social, financial and caste census. By this, the inhabitants, socio-economic situation of all castes and communities, their share within the nationwide wealth and their illustration within the establishments associated to governance and administration will likely be surveyed.
“This affirmative motion coverage will carry revolutionary change within the nation. Hand (Congress’ ballot image) will change the scenario,” Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned in a put up in Hindi on X.
Jairam Ramesh, in his put up on X, mentioned the Socio-Financial Caste Census (SECC) protecting 25 crore households was carried out in 2011 and it collected knowledge on caste and socio-economic parameters relating to those households.
The socio-economic knowledge is used now for welfare applications however the caste knowledge by no means received revealed by the Narendra Modi Authorities, he mentioned.
“Over the previous three many years, reservations in schooling and employment within the authorities and the general public sector have come to cowl not solely Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but additionally the Different Backward Courses and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of basic castes. However we’re at the moment missing knowledge on the completely different teams which can be lined underneath these classes, and their respective populations.” Jairam Ramesh mentioned the federal government can not plan for social justice with out such knowledge on the inhabitants in every of those classes. “That’s the reason a caste census turns into needed. It’s also important to make sure extra equitable distribution of reservation advantages throughout the reserved classes,” he mentioned.
“Going past the inhabitants of every caste grouping, the actual query we hope to reply is who advantages from quick financial improvement, and who bears its prices. Our expertise exhibits that the advantages of progress in India are inequitably distributed,” Jairam Ramesh asserted.
The Congress has been looking for a nationwide caste census for a while now to make sure equal alternatives to all as per their inhabitants.
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