"Reflects Government's unwillingness to conduct it": Mallikarjun Kharge raises concerns on delayed census

New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday raised concern over the delay in conducting the decadal census and urged the government to immediately start both the decadal census as well as the caste census.
Kharge said that the country has been conducting a census after every ten years from the year 1881 and despite of wars, emergencies or crisis, the process has always continued. The Congress president quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said that according to him, "just like we need periodic medical checkups to assess our health, a census is the most important checkup for a nation."
"Chairman sir, our country has been conducting a census every 10 years since 1881. No matter what -- wars, emergencies, or crises -- the process has always continued. Back in 1931, we even conducted a caste census along with the regular census. Right before the 1931 Census, Mahatma Gandhi Ji had said that just like we need periodic medical checkups to assess our health, a census is the most important checkup for a nation", Kharge said while speaking in Rajya Sabha.
Furthermore, Kharge emphasised that census is a "crucial exercise" and "involves a large number of people who collect data not just on population but also on employment, family structures, socio-economic conditions, and several other key aspects."
He also reiterated Congress' demand for a caste census and that should happen with the general census. He highlighted government's 'unwillingness' to conduct census said that they have allocated only Rs 575 crore to conduct the process.
"The census is a crucial exercise. It involves a large number of people who collect data not just on population but also on employment, family structures, socio-economic conditions, and several other key aspects. Even during major events like World War II and the India-Pakistan war of 1971-72, the census was conducted. But for the first time in history, the government has delayed the census indefinitely. Along with the general census, there should also be a caste census. After all, the government already collects data on Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), so why not include other castes as well? But unfortunately, the government has remained silent on both. This year's budget has allocated only Rs575 crore for the census, which reflects the Government's unwillingness to conduct it this year as well", Kharge said.
The Rajya Sabha LoP said that delaying the census will have "serious consequences" and without it the politics will become "arbitrary" and "ineffective". He further highlighted that without the accurate census many people are left from the benefits of the welfare schemes.
"Meanwhile, 81 per cent of countries around the world have managed to complete their censuses successfully, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. Delaying the census has serious consequences. Without accurate and updated data, policies become arbitrary and ineffective. Several crucial surveys and welfare programs--such as the Consumer Survey, National Family Health Survey, Periodic Labour Force Survey, National Food Security Act, and National Social Assistance Programme--rely on census data. Because of this delay, crores of people are being left out of welfare schemes. Policymakers are making decisions without reliable and up-to-date data. Thus, I would strongly urge the government to immediately start the decadal census, including the caste census, without any further delay", Kharge said. (ANI)