AICC OBC Panel Urges Nationwide Caste Census Based on Telangana Model
Siddaramaiah said, “It is not just a count of castes but a comprehensive socio-economic and educational survey aimed at providing equal opportunities to backward communities."
Bengaluru: A two-day meeting of the first Other Backward Classes Advisory Committee of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Bengaluru on Wednesday passed three resolutions to urge for a nationwide caste census to be conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India based on Telangana’s Social, Educational, Employment and Economic Caste survey model.
The second resolution passed at the meeting was that the 50 percent cap on reservations should be relaxed to provide adequate reservations for backward classes in education, economy, politics and other fields and the other resolution was that reservations should be implemented in private educational institutions as per Article 15 (5) of the Constitution.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the first OBC Advisory Committee meeting was highly successful and stated the Advisory Committee commended Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his resolute determination in pressing for a caste-census which compelled Union Government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to announce to hold a caste census in the country.
Speaking after the meeting, the caste census, Siddaramaiah said, “It is not just a count of castes but a comprehensive socio-economic and educational survey aimed at providing equal opportunities to backward communities.
Siddaramaiah stated owing to inequality in the society today, there is a need to empower backward communities and said the Congress party is always committed to the Constitution and lauded Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi commitment to advocate for a caste census.
The Chief Minister said the recommendations of Backward Classes Commission headed by Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde has been submitted to the State Government and the State Government asked the Backward Classes Commission to re-survey and submit its report within 3-months before the State Government initiates steps to implement the recommendations from the re-survey in Karnataka.