Though Census was a Union subject, its outcomes profoundly impacted State-level policies on education, employment, reservations, and welfare schemes and hence it was imperative that the Union Government consulted all States and Union Territories before finalising the guidelines and questionnaire, he said
Chennai: Welcoming the Union Government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming national census, a move that would have far-reaching implications for social justice, equitable policy-making and the federal structure of the nation, Chief Minister M K Stalin warned that it had the potential for unintended societal tensions if not handled with utmost care.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Stalin said caste enumeration was an exceedingly sensitive matter that touched upon deep-rooted social dynamics and regional variations in caste structures and wanted the constitution of a consultative mechanism involving Chief Ministers and representatives of States to discuss and refine the guidelines.
Though Census was a Union subject, its outcomes profoundly impacted State-level policies on education, employment, reservations, and welfare schemes and hence it was imperative that the Union Government consulted all States and Union Territories before finalising the guidelines and questionnaire, he said.
Such consultation would allow the incorporation of diverse perspectives, account for State-specific nuances, and foster cooperative federalism in this critical exercise, he said, adding that framing of questions, categories, sub-categories, and the methodology for data collection must be precise, inclusive, and free from ambiguity to ensure accuracy and public trust.
Any shortcomings in these aspects could lead to disputes, inaccuracies, or even exacerbate divisions, he said
While the exercise aligned with the long standing demand of the State government for reliable data to address historical inequalities and ensure targeted welfare measures, due diligence should be exercised in designing the framework, including pilot testing where necessary, to safeguard the sensitivity of the process and ensure the data’s reliability for advancing social justice, he said.
Tamil Nadu had been at the forefront of the demand with the State Assembly passing resolutions urging the Union Government to conduct a caste based census alongside the decadal population enumeration and the Union Government’s decision vindicated the consistent advocacy for evidence-based social justice, he said.
