Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday expressed concerns over the delay in conducting the national census and the caste census, urging the government to initiate the process as soon as possible.
Kharge highlighted the government’s silence on the matter, stating that despite wars and crises in the past, the census had never been delayed. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he remarked, “The census was conducted even during the World War and the Indo-Pakistan war, but today, it is facing an unprecedented delay.”
He further pointed out that, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, 81% of countries worldwide successfully completed their census. Kharge emphasized that India has been conducting its decennial census since 1881, continuing even through adversities like wars and emergencies.
Kharge also referred to the 1931 census, which began on January 26 and lasted a year, during which a caste census was also undertaken. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Kharge said, “Just as we must undergo periodic medical examinations, a nation also undergoes the most critical assessment in the census.”
He stressed that the national census process involves a vast number of people and collects vital data on population, employment, household conditions, and socio-economic factors. Kharge said, “The census was conducted even during the Second World War and the 1971 India-Pakistan war. It is deeply concerning that, for the first time in history, the government has delayed the census by a record time.”
Kharge urged the government to conduct a caste census along with the general census, stating, “If you can collect data on Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), then data on other castes can also be gathered.” He also questioned the government’s silence on the issue.
Kharge reiterated that while many countries completed their census during the Covid-19 pandemic, India continues to lag behind.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday expressed concerns over the delay in conducting the national census and the caste census, urging the government to initiate the process as soon as possible.
Kharge highlighted the government’s silence on the matter, stating that despite wars and crises in the past, the census had never been delayed. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he remarked, “The census was conducted even during the World War and the Indo-Pakistan war, but today, it is facing an unprecedented delay.”
He further pointed out that, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, 81% of countries worldwide successfully completed their census. Kharge emphasized that India has been conducting its decennial census since 1881, continuing even through adversities like wars and emergencies.
Kharge also referred to the 1931 census, which began on January 26 and lasted a year, during which a caste census was also undertaken. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Kharge said, “Just as we must undergo periodic medical examinations, a nation also undergoes the most critical assessment in the census.”
He stressed that the national census process involves a vast number of people and collects vital data on population, employment, household conditions, and socio-economic factors. Kharge said, “The census was conducted even during the Second World War and the 1971 India-Pakistan war. It is deeply concerning that, for the first time in history, the government has delayed the census by a record time.”
Kharge urged the government to conduct a caste census along with the general census, stating, “If you can collect data on Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), then data on other castes can also be gathered.” He also questioned the government’s silence on the issue.
Kharge reiterated that while many countries completed their census during the Covid-19 pandemic, India continues to lag behind.
