Resolution

Conduct General Census Including Caste Census Immediately 

The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), expresses grave concern that the decadal census, which was due in 2021, has not been held so far. The Centre has also not extended the deadline of June 2024 to freeze administrative boundaries which are necessary to conduct the census as per the administrative boundaries like districts, taluk, block or village levels.

The 2021 census, which should have begun in 2020, is indefinitely delayed.

The government had then stated that the census operations can be conducted only after Covid, but even after four years, there are no signs of the census being held. The data provided by the census enables policy planners and administrators to design policies which cater to different sections of people.

From the time of British rule, census has been conducted every ten years without fail. Even in 1941, during the Second World War, census was held on a truncated basis. Census provides not only a population count, but also comprehensive data which includes household data, cultivating classes and agricultural workers in the rural areas. It also provides a picture of the urban-rural population, linguistic-speaking groups and data about Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Apart from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who are enumerated in the general census, there is no data on the Other Backward Classes. It is necessary to have an accurate count of the various categories of Other Backward Classes. Hence, the 24th Congress of the CPI(M) supports the demand for a caste census. 

A caste census will help in understanding the link between caste and socio-economic, educational development, assess the impact of ruling class policies and reservations for the welfare of the backward classes. The reality of SC, ST and certain OBC caste groups who are still denied access to resources and opportunities will come out through the caste census. The bankrupt policies of the ruling classes and their failure in realising social justice will be exposed. 

By not conducting the census, the one-third reservation for women in parliament and state legislatures provided for by the constitutional amendment has been pushed to a distant future (at least not in 2029). 

The government is showing no inclination to conduct a census because of its general contempt for statistical surveys conducted on a scientific basis.

Various surveys have either been suppressed or the statistical parameters for the survey altered to distort it. The census has become a victim of the anti-scientific outlook of the BJP and the Hindutva forces. The data collected in a caste census will expose the inequalities in the caste system and puncture the Sangh Parivar's claims of an over-arching religious identity. 

To ensure that policy making is driven by scientific data and to ensure justice for all oppressed sections in society, it is imperative to demand that the much-delayed 2021 census, along with caste census be held immediately. 

The 24th Congress of the CPI(M) demands that the Union government immediately conduct the general census and along with it a caste census. It appeals to all the democratic sections in the country to support and press this demand.