Question : CASTE BASED CENSUS

(a) whether the Government has conducted caste based census in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the total population/persons belonging to SC,ST, and OBC separately, State-wise;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to collect caste-wise data in the Census 2011;

(e) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the Government has received any representations/suggestions from various State Governments and organisations in this regard;

(g) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and organisation-wise; and

(h) the total expenditure likely to be incurred on Census 2011?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) to (c): The question on caste was canvassed in all Censuses up to 1941. Comprehensive tabulation was, however, done only up to 1931 Census. In 1941 Census, only a limited tabulation was undertaken.

As per policy decision of the Government, data relating to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is being collected from 1951 Census onwards. Information relating to castes/OBCs other than

Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) has been given up as a matter of policy from 1951 Census.

State wise SC and ST population as per 2001 Census are enclosed (Annexure I & II)

(d) & (e): Yes Madam. The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 9th September, 2010 has approved the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) to canvass ‘caste’ of all persons as returned by them as a separate exercise.

The Government has decided to canvass ‘caste’ of all persons as returned by them as a separate exercise, after the population enumeration phase of the 2011 Census is over, from the month of June 2011 and complete it in a phased manner by September 2011.

(f) & (g): Yes Madam. The Government has received several representations/ proposals/ requests/ suggestions from MPs, MLAs, Ministers, Ex-CMs/Ex-MPs, etc. and several other quarters including some State Governments/ State Government Organizations and Political Parties for conducting caste wise/ OBC census in 2011 Census in the country. Some of them are as mentioned below:

Representations for conducting caste wise/ OBC census have been received from: (i) Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, Government of India, (ii) Shri V. Hanumantha Rao, MP (RS), (iii) Kum. Mayawati, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, (iv) Shri Nikhil Kumar, Governor of Nagaland, (v) Shri Sameer Bhujbal, MP (Lok Sabha),(vi) Dr. Ejaz Ali, MP (RS) (vii) Shri Haribhau Rathod, MP (LS), (viii) Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, President, Telugudesam Party, (ix) Dr. C. S. Dwarakanath, Chairman, Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, Government of Karnataka, (x) Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar, Chairman, Punjab State Backward Classes Commission, Government of Punjab, (xi) Resolution adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council favouring enumeration of BCs in Census 2011, (xii) Secretary, Other Backward Classes Commission, Government of Uttarakhand, (xiii) Shri A. N. Sardar, Assistant Commissioner for Reservation, Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal, and many others.

(h) : Detailed modalities of conducting Caste-wise Census are in the process of finalization and the estimated cost would be worked out thereafter.