Narvijay Yadav*The 15th Census of India was held in 2011. This process is repeated every ten years, hence the 16th census was scheduled in 2021, which was postponed due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the next census of the country will be done digitally, and no citizen will be left out. Be it this year or next, the e-Census may be final. It is quite possible that after this the census will never be conducted again. All the data from the birth of infants to the death of adults will continue to be collected in digital form and the government will automatically send the information to the eligible citizens for various public welfare schemes, which will remove all the discrepancies. For this, the central government is going to amend the Birth-Death Registration Act. The draft of the amended law is in its final stages. It is estimated that the new law may come into force in the country before the start of the census in 2022. To make e-Census more scientific, modern technologies will be added to it.&nbsp;After the amendment of the law, the account of birth and death of citizens will reach the central government. Every birth and death will be registered by 2024. The birth and death register will also be linked to the census. This means that the census will be updated automatically after every birth and death in the country. This step of the government will actually reinforce the concept of 'One Nation One Data'. At present, this data reaches the center after a long wait through the states. At present, many cards are being used like Aadhar, Driving License, Voter ID, Passport and Ration Card, which people get made, but often these cards are not closed after their death. Because of this, unnecessary data keeps getting collected and there is a risk of misuse of these documents, while the benefits of facilities are not accessible to the eligible persons. After the amendment of the law, the wait of ten years for the census will end. The complete picture of the country's population will continue to reach the center every month, which will help in making new schemes.&nbsp;The next census will be the e-Census and based on this, the development plan of the country for the next 25 years will be prepared. After birth, the details will be added to the census register and after s/he turns 18, the name will be included in the voter list and after death, the name will be deleted. This will make it easier to change the name and address. Earlier this year, the central government had talked about some amendments in the rules to allow online self-counting in the upcoming census and the National Population Register (NPR). The announcement was made in 2020, but was postponed in view of the pandemic. The Center recently extended the deadline for change of jurisdiction for all states to June 30, 2022. Earlier this deadline was December 31, 2021. For the first time in the 140-year history of Census in&nbsp;India, it is proposed to collect data through a mobile app. Census provides invaluable socio-economic data, which form a reliable basis for policy making.—The Hawk Features*The writer is a senior journalist &amp; columnist.

The 15th Census of India was held in 2011. This process is repeated every ten years, hence the 16th census was scheduled in 2021, which was postponed due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the next census of the country will be done digitally, and no citizen will be left out. Be it this year or next, the e-Census may be final.

The next Census will be Digital and the final

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala released the&nbsp;Breed-Wise Report Of Livestock And Poultry based on 20th Livestock Census here&nbsp;today. Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State, for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, graced the occasion. Shri Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Shri Upamanyu Basu, JS were present.Shri Rupala highlighted the significance of the report for the upgradation of the livestock and stressed on its utility for the policy makers and researchers. The breed-wise data collection was done along with 20th&nbsp;Livestock Census during the year 2019.&nbsp;It was for the first time in the country that breed wise data was collected by using tablet computers instead of paper mode which is indeed a unique attempt.&nbsp;The livestock as well as poultry birds were counted according to their breeds as recognized by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).&nbsp;Considering the importance of Livestock Sector, it becomes essential for the policy maker and researcher to ascertain the various breeds of livestock species so that the livestock species can be genetically upgraded for optimum achievement for its product and also for other purposes.&nbsp;<img src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/58111XRZQ.jpeg">&nbsp;The major highlights of Breed-wise Report of Livestock and Poultry are summarised below:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The report has covered 184 recognized indigenous/exotic &amp; crossbred breeds of&nbsp;19 selected species that are registered by the NBAGR (National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">There are 41 recognized indigenous whereas 4 exotic/crossbred breeds of cattle covered in this report.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">As per the report, the Exotic and Crossbred animal contribute nearly 26.5% of the total cattle population whereas 73.5% are Indigenous and Non-descript cattle.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Crossbred Jersey has the highest share with 49.3% as compared to 39.3% of Crossbred Holstein Friesian (HF) in total Exotic/Crossbred cattle.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Gir, Lakhimi and Sahiwal breeds have major contribution in total Indigenous Cattle.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Buffalo, the Murrah breed majorly contributes with 42.8% which is commonly found in UP and Rajasthan.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Sheep, there are 3 exotics and 26 indigenous breeds were found in the country. Among the pure exotic breeds, Corriedale breed majorly contributes with 17.3% and in the indigenous breeds the Nellore breed contribute the highest in the category with 20.0% share.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Goats, there are 28 indigenous breeds found in the country. The Black Bengal breed contributes the highest with 18.6%.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In exotic/crossbred pigs, crossbred pig contributes 86.6% whereas Yorkshire contributes majorly with 8.4%. In indigenous pigs, Doom breed major contributes with 3.9%.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Horse &amp; Ponies, the share of Marwari breed majorly contributes with 9.8%.</li><li>In Donkeys, the share of Spiti breed contributes with 8.3%.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Camel, Bikaneri breed majorly contributes with 29.6%.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In Poultry, desi fowl, Aseel breed majorly contribute in both backyard poultry and commercial poultry farm.</li></ul>

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala released the Breed-Wise Report Of Livestock And Poultry based on 20th Livestock Census here today.

Rupala Releases Breed-Wise Report of Livestock Poultry Based on 20th Livestock Census

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called an all party meeting to discuss caste-based census on May 27. "We have sent the proposal to all the parties for the meeting on May 27. However, some of the parties have not replied to the call of the state government so far. We are waiting for their response," Nitish Kumar said. "We want to discuss each and every issue related to caste-based census. The leaders of different political parties will give their suggestions which will be a great help," he said.Nitish Kumar's statement came 10 days after Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav met him over the issue. Earlier, Jitan Ram Manjhi claimed that he has received a call from the CMO office for the meeting on May 27. With this statement of Nitish Kumar, it is clear that caste-based census is likely to take place in Bihar soon and its expenses will be borne by the Bihar government.In Bihar, parties like the JD-U, the RJD, the Congress, the Left parties and the AIMIM are in favour of the caste census. The BJP, however, has raised objections. Sources said that the BJP is not likely to attend the all party meet called by the Chief Minister. Tarkishore Prasad, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said: "The Chief Minister has told us about the date of meeting for the caste-based census. We are discussing this matter within the party (BJP). We will soon take a call on it." Caste-based census is a long-standing demand of political parties minus the BJP. An all-party delegation headed by Nitish Kumar had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi eight months ago but actual progress on it was not visible on the ground. In the last one month or so, the situation seems to have changed and Nitish Kumar is firm on his decision.—IANS

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called an all party meeting to discuss caste-based census on May 27.

Nitish calls all party meet on caste census on May 27

Patna: An all-party meeting will be chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here next week to discuss the modalities for conducting a state-level census of castes, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said. He also said a missive to the effect has been sent to all political parties to send their representatives for the meeting scheduled on June 1. "The meeting will be held at the chief minister's secretariat at 4 pm. Hopefully, all parties will attend and provide their inputs based on which the cabinet will pass the requisite order," Chaudhary said. The demand for a fresh caste census has stirred the political atmosphere in Bihar for some time.Initially, parties were of the view that it be conducted by the Centre. The last census of castes was held way back in 1921.An all-party delegation, headed by the chief minister, had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year to press the demand. However, the Union government finally expressed its inability to undertake the headcount of social groups other than the Dalits and the tribals.This was resented by the numerically powerful Other Backward Classes, who dominate politics in Bihar, especially since the 1990s when the Mandal Commission recommendations were implemented.It was, therefore, demanded that if the Centre was reluctant to do the needful, the state get a headcount of castes done at its own expense. Kumar, who is himself an OBC and product of the Mandal era, agreed to the demand.The issue has, however, been hanging fire, apparently on account of the ambivalence shown by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the wake of its central leadership having turned down the demand for a national caste census.Nonetheless, the BJP leadership has been at pains to underscore that it has never been opposed to a caste census and that its members had supported two resolutions passed by both houses of the state legislature, previously, in favour of the demand.Against this backdrop, the state BJP president has also come out with a tweet explicitly stating that his party “will be attending” the meeting convened by the state government on June 1.Meanwhile, the development has provided the opposition RJD with an occasion for some chest-thumping.“Caste census became an issue after it was raised by our leader Tejashwi Yadav. His initiative had resulted in the delegation, of which he was a part, meeting the PM. And his relentless pursuit of the matter has forced the state government to stop dragging its feet and move forward," Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Shyam Rajak said.A few days ago, the chief minister had indicated that the meeting could take place on May 27, though “some parties, not all” had agreed to the same. The date may have got deferred in view of the fact that the major parties in the state, the CM's Janata Dal-United, BJP and RJD, currently have their hands full with biennial elections to five Rajya Sabha seats.The parties are yet to come out with names of their respective candidates, which they must before May 31, the last date of filing of nominations.—PTI

An all-party meeting will be chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here next week to discuss the modalities for conducting a state-level census of castes, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said. 

Nitish to chair all-party meet on caste census on June 1: Minister

Patna: Ailing Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has returned to his home turf Bihar, amid escalating political temperatures over issues of caste census, the Rajya Sabha biennial polls and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering yet another corruption case against the septuagenarian. Prasad arrived in Patna along with eldest daughter Misa Bharti, at whose Delhi residence he had stayed since his release on bail granted last month by the Jharkhand high court in fodder scam cases.A huge throng of RJD supporters was present at the airport to welcome the otherwise flamboyant leader, who appeared morose, on a wheelchair with a mask on his face. The former Bihar chief minister was taken straight to his car in which he was driven to the residence of his wife Rabri Devi, much to the disappointment of waiting journalists.Prasad's arrival in Patna from Delhi on Wednesday coincided with that of R C P Singh, Union minister and senior leader of the Janata Dal-United controlled by the former's arch rival Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister.Singh's future as a Union minister appears to be hinging on his re-nomination by the JD-U, which hopes to bag one of the five Rajya Sabha seats.Singh is a blue eyed boy of Kumar, but is said to be not very popular with the rank and file of the JD-U, despite having held many key posts in the party, including that of the national president.In the RJD camp, the Rajya Sabha ticket aspirants include Misa Bharti whose second consecutive term is to end shortly.She, however, declined to comment when asked about the issue by journalists, saying her father, the national president, will make announcements at an appropriate time.The RJD, with its increased tally in the assembly, hopes to win two of the remaining seats.While Misa Bharti's candidature is almost certain, many names have been doing the rounds for the second seat, the most prominent being Sharad Yadav, a former party chief who was disqualified as a Rajya Sabha member in 2017.Yadav's breakaway group Loktantrik Janata Dal has since merged with the RJD.The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is tipped to win the remaining two seats, is also yet to come out with names of its candidates.Filing of nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls began on Wednesday and comes to a close on May 31.Prasad, who is seen as an OBC icon, is also expected to speak his mind on the thorny issue of caste census.After the Centre's flat refusal to conduct a headcount of any social group other than SCs and STs, the Nitish Kumar government has agreed to get a survey done at its own expense.An all-party meeting is scheduled on June 1 to decide the modalities. The RJD supremo, who is also known to be adept at making political capital out of his legal wrangles, would also be keenly followed for any take that he might have to offer on the CBI raids conducted at his Delhi and Patna residences last week in a land for jobs scam pertaining to his tenure as Railway minister, which came to an end in 2009.—PTI

Ailing Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has returned to his home turf Bihar, amid escalating political temperatures over issues of caste census, the Rajya Sabha biennial polls and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering yet another corruption case against the septuagenarian.

Lalu returns to Patna as Bihar politics heats up

Patna: Impasse on the caste census, arising out of the Centre's reluctance to undertake the exercise nationally, ended in Bihar on Wednesday after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired an all-party meeting and agreed to conduct a state-specific survey. Briefing reporters after the meeting, which had been hanging fire for several months, Kumar said the exercise will be given the name&nbsp;jaati adharit ganana&nbsp;(caste-based headcount), but clarified that it will be a survey much larger in scope as it will take into account people belonging to all religions and their socio-economic conditions.”The necessary cabinet clearance will be given soon and we will ensure that the work is completed fast by fixing a time limit,” he said in the presence of delegates of all parties. Kumar underscored that there was unanimity among members of all parties on the issue, as had been evident earlier when unanimous resolutions favouring a caste census were passed by the state legislature in 2019 and 2020.Responding to a query about the all-party meeting taking place nine months after a delegation from the state had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for the demand, Kumar allayed apprehensions about further delay.”The meeting had to be put off because of various reasons, including elections. But now, the wheels will move fast. We will soon be putting out advertisements and commence training of personnel,” the chief minister said.The caste census has become an emotive issue in Bihar where politics has been dominated by OBCs, whose last headcount was conducted during the British raj.Kumar, who owes his own rise in no small measure to the Mandal uprising, had headed the all-party delegation that met the PM last year, after the Centre expressed its inability to extend the census beyond Dalits and tribals.He stressed that it was wrong to believe that the Bharatiya Janata Party, his ally in the state as well as the Centre, was ”opposed” to a caste census, a charge repeatedly made by opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal.”The Centre expressed its inability. It does not mean they (BJP) were opposed (to caste census) at any time. Their representatives accompanied us when we met the PM. You can see their representatives here,” Kumar said.The BJP was represented at the meeting, among others, by Deputy CM Tarkishor Prasad and state unit chief Sanjay Jaiswal.The chief minister, who belongs to the Janata Dal-United, said the findings of the survey will be shared with political parties and the public from time to time, making use of all communication forums, including social media.He, however, evaded questions about the mammoth exercise costing the impoverished state a bomb.Kumar's former deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently the leader of the opposition and was present at the meeting as a representative of the RJD, was of the view that the state's survey should get financial aid from the Centre.”I have shared my view at the meeting. The National Democratic Alliance has 39 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. The remaining one is with the Congress. In Rajya Sabha, we have presence and so do other parties from Bihar. We all may jointly raise the demand for central assistance,” Yadav told reporters upon returning to his residence. The young leader exulted that the headway was a ”victory” for his father Lalu Prasad, the RJD's founding chief, whom he credited with having set the tone on the caste census issue.He also said he would favour a cabinet clearance ”at the earliest” though the exercise could be put on hold ”till the floods are over” and, preferably, taken up around Chhath when migrants return to Bihar in droves.—PTI

Impasse on the caste census, arising out of the Centre's reluctance to undertake the exercise nationally, ended in Bihar on Wednesday after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired an all-party meeting and agreed to conduct a state-specific survey.

Bihar's caste census is now socio-economic survey of all sections

Patna:&nbsp;The Bihar unit of the BJP has supported a caste based census in the all-party meeting on Wednesday, but state president Sanjay Jaiswal has expressed three points of concern over it.In a Facebook post, Jaiswal pointed out his first concern, saying that the state government should ensure full proof methods for the census so that Rohingya or Bangladeshi Muslims do not include their names and claim citizenship.Raising the second point, Jaiswal said: “Muslim community is in a majority in Seemanchal area of Bihar. Among Muslims, Sheikhs are considered as upper caste. Hence, the state government should ensure that Sheikhs do not include their names in the category of Shokhore or Kulharia castes and take the benefits. Shikhore and Kulharia are considered as lower caste in Muslim community,” he said.“As per the Central government data, there are 3,747 castes in our country. Such data was based on the 1931 caste based census. On the basis of the 2011 census, the UPA government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and mentioned 4.30 lakh castes. That census was not in public domain. So the Bihar government should ensure that such a miscalculation does not take place in this caste based census,” Jaiswal said.—IANS

The Bihar unit of the BJP has supported a caste based census in the all-party meeting on Wednesday, but state president Sanjay Jaiswal has expressed three points of concern over it.

On Caste Census, Bihar BJP’s Three Points Of Concern

Chennai: Senior leader of Tamil Nadu Congress and former state president of the party K. V. Thangkabalu has called for a caste census in Tamil Nadu. In a statement, Thangkabalu said the state should take the lead in conducting a caste census and become a model for other states. He demanded that all communities need protection from the government and a caste census is required for that. He said that all sections of society need to get the right social justice, for which the caste census across the country is the necessity.He said, "Such a census would help all the communities get their rights based on their population...and this would help reservation for each community in education, job, and other sectors."The senior leader also said that he would meet all political party leaders of the state on the issue and called upon Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take the initiative for the census.—IANS

Senior leader of Tamil Nadu Congress and former state president of the party K. V. Thangkabalu has called for a caste census in Tamil Nadu.

Thangkabalu seeks caste census in TN to get right social justice

New Delhi: A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that reservations should continue till discrimination exists in society, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday hit back saying that he should ask the Centre to agree for the caste census or else his statement would look like a headline management done under pressure.  RJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said, “When Mohan Bhagwat talks about reservation then I thought from which direction the sun rose today because they are the people with different bunch of thoughts. I felt happy that at least they started thinking as per the Constitution of India.”  He took a swipe at the RSS, and said, “Bhagwat ji you call your organisation a cultural organisation, but it is not so, as it is a fully political organisation and runs the government.  “The government is a mask. If you have to think, then you need to tell the government why it is silent on caste census?” Jha asked.  He also questioned whether Bhagwat does not know the condition of the people who clean the sewer.  “Why is it that even after so many years their condition has not changed? It won’t happen only by talking. You need to think and tell the government that it should say yes for the caste census and try to end the politics of atrocities otherwise we would think that your statement is under political pressure for headline management,” the RJD leader said.  His remarks came a day after Bhagwat in Maharashtra’s Nagpur on Wednesday said that reservations should continue till discrimination exists in society.  He also said that the RSS organisation “completely supported the reservations provided in the Constitution”.
—IANS

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that reservations should continue till discrimination exists in society, the Rashtriya Janata Dal

After RSS chief supports reservation, RJD asks him to appeal to Centre on caste census

New Delhi: Congress on Friday said the start of the 18th summit with India’s rotational presidency is a moment for reflection, revealing one of the "biggest failures of the NDA (No Data Available) government" as it has failed to conduct the "decadal Census" that was due in 2021 due to which an estimated 14 crore citizens are excluded from their food entitlements.
The Congress also demanded the government to stop denying 14 crore Indians their basic rights under the NFSA, increase the beneficiary quota until the Census is carried out, conduct an updated national caste census and end of suppression of data inconvenient to the government.
Hitting back at the government for not conducting census, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "The start of the 18th G20 summit today with India’s rotational presidency is a moment for reflection, revealing one of the biggest failures of the NDA (No Data Available) Government -- it has failed to conduct the decadal Census that was due in 2021."
He said that nearly, every other G20 country has managed to conduct the census, despite Covid-19, including other developing countries like Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa.
"The Modi government is so inept and incompetent that it has been unable to carry out India’s most important statistical exercise that has been conducted on schedule since 1951. This is an unprecedented failure in the history of our nation, " the Congress communication in-charge said.
He said that the Modi government’s failure to conduct the census has led to an estimated 14 crore (140 million) Indians being excluded from their food entitlements, according to a recent media report.
"This is a categorical denial of a fundamental right to the citizen guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, which was implemented by the UPA government through the landmark National Food Security Act (NFSA). The Modi government was forced to rely on the NFSA as a critical lifeline for families across India, providing the much needed safety net for the poorest during the COVID19 pandemic, " he said.
Ramesh said that since the Modi government failed to conduct the census in 2021, it only offers NFSA coverage to 81 crore people based on the 2011 Census, whereas 95 crore Indians are entitled to the NFSA coverage, going by the current estimates of population.
He said that due to no census work carried out new beneficiaries are not being added and in July 2022, the Supreme Court had noted this issue and directed the Modi government to rectify this untenable situation by using population projections.
"But no change was made. This massive failure shows not only the Prime Minister’s contempt for the Supreme Court, but his disdain for the Constitutional rights of the people of India, " he alleged.
He also accused the government and said that the Socio-Economic Caste Census that was conducted by the UPA government in 2011 remains suppressed.
"It has even opposed the Bihar government’s attempt at a state-level Caste Census in the Supreme Court, " Ramesh said, adding that as highlighted by former party chief Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and reiterated by the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in a letter to the Prime Minister on April 16, 2023, it is absolutely critical to have an up-to-date and reliable Caste Census.
"Without establishing the count, categorisation and characterisation of the most numerous OBC population, it is impossible to ensure adequate development and social justice for all Indians. We firmly believe in the principle of parity not charity, for which the Caste Census is essential, " he said.
He also cited the examples of the National Sample Survey 2017-18 on unemployment data and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of 2019-20 on open defecation and the prevalence of anaemia and said that the government discredits collecting any data that it finds inconvenient to its narrative.
Putting forth the demands of the party Ramesh said, "Stop denying 14 crore Indians their basic rights under the NFSA, and increase the beneficiary quota until the census is carried out. Conduct an updated national caste census, and stop opposing statelevel caste census efforts. And end the suppression of data inconvenient to the government, like the 2017-18 NSS and the 2022-23 CES, stop manipulating NFHS to hide failures in health indicators, and restore faith in India’s historically robust statistical system."&nbsp;
—IANS

Congress on Friday said the start of the 18th summit with India’s rotational presidency is a moment for reflection, revealing one of the "biggest failures

India's G20 presidency moment of reflection, reveals NDA govt's failure to conduct census: Cong

Kolkata: The closing day of the two-day Mumbai conclave of the opposition alliance, INDIA was to a great extent marked by the differences over endorsing the call for a caste-based census, which was proposed by Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar. It was vociferously opposed by his West Bengal counterpart and All India Trinamool Congress’ national president Mamata Banerjee.
It is perceived that this difference over endorsement of the caste census was one of the reasons why Mamata Banerjee and her party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had skipped the joint press conference at the end of the Mumbai conclave.
Why is the chief minister so sensitive about endorsing the caste census?&nbsp;
While the Trinamool Congress leaders here are maintaining silence over the matter claiming that it is only for the chief minister or the national general secretary to explain the party’s logic behind opposing the census, political observers and commentators see a couple of sound reasons behind this stand.
According to them, while the rising complaints about issuance of fake caste certificates in West Bengal which led to a major hullabaloo in the state during the recently concluded polls for the three-tier panchayat system is one of the prime reasons, another reason is the CM's lack of experience in caste-based politics, that had never been a dominant feature in the politics of West Bengal as it is in the cow belt.
Speaking to IANS, political analyst Subhasish Moitra said that one reason why Mamata Banerjee is vehemently opposed to the caste census might be the rising allegations of issuance of false caste certificates in the state. “Those allegations surfaced in a major way during the recently concluded polls for the three- tier panchayat system, where several lower-level bureaucrats were accused of issuing these fake caste certificates following instructions of the ruling party so that general category candidates can contest from reserved seats,” Moitra pointed out.
However, political columnist Amal Sarkar feels that charges of fake caste certificates is not the main reason behind Mamata Banerjee’s objection to caste politics. “Such allegations are there in every state. In some states where political parties thrive on mainly caste- based politics the irregularities on this count are probably much more than in West Bengal. This might be a reason but surely not the main reason for the chief minister’s opposition to a caste census."
According to him, caste-based politics had never been a major factor in West Bengal as it is in the cow belt. It is totally unknown to Mamata Banerjee unlike the JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar, RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, BSP’s Mayawati and to an extent the DMK in Tamil Nadu.
“Remember, religion- based politics, whether nurturing or opposing it, has a somewhat straitjacket pattern. However, in caste-based politics there are too many crosscurrents. The prominent leaders from the cow belt and to an extent those from Tamil Nadu have long experience of navigating these crosscurrents and they mainly survive on caste- based politics. The same is not the case not just for Mamata Banerjee, but for leaders from all the political parties in West Bengal. So in my opinion Mamata Banerjee’s hesitation to step into this unknown territory is behind her resistance to a caste-based census,” Sarkar said.
Both Moitra and Sarkar feel that this issue of caste-based census might turn into a major point of discord between the constituents of the INDIA alliance in the coming days, with the Trinamool Congress’s distance from those favouring this census widening further.&nbsp;
—IANS

The closing day of the two-day Mumbai conclave of the opposition alliance, INDIA was to a great extent marked by the differences over endorsing the call

Spectre of fake certificates among reasons why Mamata's against caste census

Kolkata: The increasing incidences of human attacks on fishing cats in West Bengal, often resulting in the deaths of the animals, has become a major cause of concern for the state forest department.
The department officials admit that a lack of awareness amongst the people of these fishing cats, which is incidentally the state animal in West Bengal, is the main reason behind the attacks.
A senior department official said that there are lots of misconceptions about these fishing cats, which are often mistaken as mini-leopards because of the patterns on their coats.
When these fishing cats enter the human habitations, the local villagers often kill them out of this misconception.
“So, there is a necessity to create an awareness drive about fishing cats among local people,” the official said.
In order to eradicate the misconceptions, the orest department has decided to accelerate the pace of its awareness drive by conducting increasing number of workshops involving NGOs dealing with animals rights issues as well as experts and teachers from the zoology sector.
“We started the zawareness drive in November last year but organising workshops has not been frequent. But now we want to increase the numbers and frequencies of such workshops with the assistance of independent experts and NGOs,” the department official said.
Last year, the department conducted a census of fishing cats in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans area.
Under that project camera-traps were laid.
Analyzing the footage, it has been revealed that currently there are 385 fishing cats scattered over the four ranges of Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park East, National Park West Bengal and Basirhat.
That fishing cat census in the Sundarbans was the second of its kind in the world after the first one on this count being conducted at Chilika lake in Odisha in June last year in joint collaboration between The Fishing Cat Project (TFCP) and the Chilika Development Authority.
The number of fishing cats detected in the Chilika region then was 176, which was less than 50 per cent of the number detected in the Sunderban census this time.
—IANS

The increasing incidences of human attacks on fishing cats in West Bengal, often resulting in the deaths of the animals

Bengal forest dept worried over increasing human attacks on fishing cats

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party is tied up in contradictions ahead of the special session of Parliament next week.
Though the party is decidedly ranged against the BJP on the convening of the special session, it knows that it cannot make much of a difference either way with just three members.
“The manner in which this session has been convened is against all established democratic norms. The government should have consulted all parties before convening the session. The agenda which has now been made public is also vague,” said SP MP Professor Ram Gopal Yadav.
Another senior SP leader said that the party cannot make its presence felt because it lacks the numbers.
“We would like to draw the nation’s attention to the misuse of bulldozer politics in Uttar Pradesh, victimisation of opposition leaders and encounter policy that is targeting innocent people but we will be facing time constraints. We will nevertheless register our protest at the manner in which the session has been convened and the kind of politics being pursued by the BJP,” another leader said.
The agenda of the special session states that Parliament will discuss the journey of 75 years starting from the Samvidhan Sabha on the first day of the five-day session beginning September 18.
It is here, many feel, that the BJP has put in a catch.
According to a political analyst, the BJP has very shrewdly paved the way for a division in the INDIA bloc.
“When the journey of Parliament is discussed, the BJP will shift the spotlight on the Emergency and parties like the Samajwadi Party will be compelled to speak up against it. Divisions will automatically emerge within the INDIA bloc and that is what the BJP wants. It wants to remind people of the atrocities that took place during the Emergency,” the analyst said.
A SP leader agreed, “I do not know the extent to which the party will speak out against the Emergency but there is no doubt that our leaders have been the biggest sufferers of that period and when the Emergency is discussed, none of the INDIA members are going to appreciate it.”
Incidentally, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are already speaking in conflicting tones in Uttar Pradesh which does not augur well for the future of the opposition alliance in UP.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai has blamed the Samajwadi Party for the Congress defeat in the Bageshwar by-election in Uttarakhand.“The Congress would have won if the SP had not fielded its candidate,” he said.
Rai also announced that the Congress would contest all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, thereby closing all options for seat sharing.
The Parliament session could reflect this lack of bonhomie between the two opposition parties.
The BJP would also like to deflect attention from the caste census issue -- something that it is not too comfortable with -- and for this it will bring up issues that can put the opposition, particularly the Congress, in the dock.
“We are a political party and we will definitely put our rivals in a spot — that is what politics is all about. We will tell the people how some parties have looted the country for decades and how Modi has done so much for the people in just nine years,” said a BJP leader, giving a clear indication of the mood of the special session.
—IANS

The Samajwadi Party is tied up in contradictions ahead of the special session of Parliament next week.

Focus on Parliament's history a ploy to revive Emergency memories

Patna: Amid the ongoing efforts to finalise the name of the convenor of the ‘INDIA’ bloc, the Janata Dal (United) has stepped up its pitch for naming Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as the Opposition’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
JD(U) national president Lalan Singh and Bihar minister Ashok Chaudhary described Nitish Kumar as eligible to be the Prime Minister. Choudhary said that apart from Bihar, people of many other states want to see Nitish Kumar as PM.
He said that if a survey is conducted, then many people would like Nitish Kumar to become the Prime Minister.
However, Chaudhary said that further decisions will be taken as per the political scenario.
Earlier, RJD president Lalu Prasad had tried to portray Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the leader by calling him ‘groom’.
Election strategist Prashant Kishore says that Nitish Kumar has a limited role in the INDIA bloc. He added that till now three meetings have been held. The first meeting was held in Patna, then it was believed that Nitish Kumar would be its convenor and he would be made the convenor, but it did not happen.
Even in Bengaluru, there was no discussion about making Nitish Kumar the coordinator. He said that in the third meeting, Nitish Kumar had taken up the agenda that INDIA should make caste census the main issue, but the alliance partners did not accept it as the main issue.
Political analysts opine that differences of opinion within the INDIA bloc cannot be denied right now. On the occasion of the G20 meeting, the chief ministers of many states of the parties that are part of the opposition alliance (INDIA), attended the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, but the Congress and the RJD were unhappy about this.
On the other hand, RJD leader and Bihar education minister Chandra Shekhar has given controversial statements about the Ramcharitmanas, which is not acceptable to the JD-U. The parties in the alliance in Bihar also have different claims regarding seat sharing.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the RJD could not win even a single seat, whereas at present it is the largest party in the Assembly.
Ajay Kumar, an expert on Bihar politics, says that there are many complications in the INDIA bloc, and it is too early to say anything.
He said that till now there has been no discussion on seat-sharing. There is no doubt that everyone wants the BJP to be removed from power, but all the parties have their own compulsions of self-interest.
—IANS

Amid the ongoing efforts to finalise the name of the convenor of the ‘INDIA’ bloc, the Janata Dal (United) has stepped up its pitch

JD(U) steps up pitch for Nitish as next PM; Lalan Singh leads campaign

Patna: Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri on Wednesday said that the Women’s Reservation Bill will not be implemented even in 2029.
While speaking to the media persons in Patna, Yechuri said: “We have been waiting for this bill for the last 25 years. The Modi government has been in power since last 10 years but he is only making promises. I doubt that he will implement this bill even in 2029.”
“The way they are saying that after the census, the women reservation bill will be implemented. It will take a long time. I don’t think it will be implemented in the next five years as the census will not take place,” Yechuri said
On OBC reservation, Yechuri said that such things are not new. “We have been listening to it for a long time. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha last time. We have to discuss this bill.”
—IANS

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri on Wednesday said that the Women’s Reservation Bill

Women’s Reservation Bill will not be implemented even in 2029, says Sitaram Yechuri

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed his regret that the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota was not provided under the Bill brought by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2010. Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “100 per cent regret hai. This should have been done then. We will get this done.”  Rahul Gandhi demanded that the data of the previous caste census be released immediately and that a fresh caste census should be held to determine the population of OBCs and other weaker sections. “What is this delay in the census? Caste census should be done now, and the last caste census data should be released at once,” Rahul Gandhi said. He added that the Congress government will conduct a caste census once it returns to power and added that the country will then know the total of OBCs, Dalits and tribal communities here.  He further said that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but doesn’t understand what is being done for them. “I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India - Cabinet secretary and secretaries... If they work for OBC, then why are only 3 out of 90 secretaries from OBC? How much and what are these OBC officers controlling the country's budget? I don't understand that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but what did he do for them?", he said. He further alleged that OBC MPs have been made idols who have no power at all. “I want to find out how many OBCs there are in India and how much participation they get. OBCs should get as much share as the percentage of the population that they form. You ask any BJP MP whether he takes any decision? Participate in law-making? no way. OBC MPs have been made idols, who have no power at all,” he added.  The Congress leader had spoken about the lower representation of OBCs in the secretary-level posts at the Centre while participating in the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. The BJP countered him by saying that it gives larger representation to OBCs and that the number of MPs of the party from the community was more than the total number of parliamentarians of Congress. Rahul Gandhi said the party extended its full support to the Women’s Reservation Bill but there is no certainty about the date of its implementation and it requires a Census and delimitation exercise. He said should have been implemented immediately. "Women's Reservation Bill is great but we received two footnotes that Census and Delimitation need to be done before that. Both of these will take years. The truth is that the reservation can be implemented today...This is not a complicated matter but the government doesn't want to do that. The government has presented this before the country but it will be implemented 10 years from now. Nobody knows if this will even be implemented. This is a distraction tactic, diversion tactic," Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI)

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed his regret that the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota was not provided under the Bill brought by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2010

Rahul Gandhi regrets non-inclusion of OBC quota in 2010 Women’s reservation bill

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed his “regrets” that OBC quota was not provided under the Women’s Reservation Bill that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had brought in 2010.
Though the bill is a “good thing”, it is a distraction and diversion tactic from the demand of caste census, he added.
“Yes, 100 per cent I regret that. This should have been done then. We will get this done..,” Rahul Gandhi rued when asked if he holds any regrets on the decision made by the Congress-led UPA alliance government 13 years ago.
The demand for a quota within a quota for OBC women was made by the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 2010, when the UPA government had tabled its version of the bill in Parliament. The Congress had then rejected the demand which led to the SP and RJD withdrawing their support.
The bill, which had already cleared the Rajya Sabha in 2010 then, never made it to the Lok Sabha.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Rahul Gandhi trained his guns at the government over the delay in implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill by citing delimitation and census as reasons to defer it is a ‘diversionary tactic’ and a way to move everyone’s attention away from caste census’.
The Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad said, “Few days ago, the Special Session of Parliament was announced and with a lot of fanfare we shifted from the old Parliament to the new Parliament building.”
“We were not aware of what was the main focus of the session. The Women’s Reservation Bill is great but we received two footnotes that census and delimitation need to be done before that. Both of these will take years. The truth is that the reservation can be implemented today…This is not a complicated matter but the government doesn’t want to do that,” the Congress leader said.
“Government has presented this before the country but it will be implemented 10 years from now. Nobody knows if this will even be implemented. This is a distraction tactic, diversion tactic,” Rahul Gandhi said, hitting back at the government.
Rahul Gandhi said that he spoke about one institution in Parliament and an officer who runs the government — cabinet secretary and secretary.
“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi works a lot for OBC then out of 90, only three are from the OBC community, why? I did an analysis from the budget.
How much budget they control, OBC, tribal and Dalits. OBC officers control only 5 per cent of the budget,” he said.
Taking a pot shot at the government, he said, “He talks about OBC and their pride. When I spoke, his response was interesting. They said in the Lok Sabha we have our representation. Is the OBC population only 5 per cent?. If it is true I am accepting and if not true I will find it out.”
He also said, “Lok Sabha is called the temple of democracy, whether they take any decision, do they participate in making laws, the answer is no”.
“MPs are like statues in temples and they don’t have any power and they have no role to play in running the government,” he alleged.
Rahul Gandhi also said that the youth of the OBC community needs to understand the same.
“The census and delimitation should be removed. Women should get their rights,” Rahul Gandhi demanded, adding that caste census data should be made public which was carried by us.
“Also do a caste census. The Prime Minister needs to explain to the 90 officers of India and why only three are OBCs,” he added.
He also said that it is a fact that a very large mass of India does not hold power.
To a question if he would be willing to provide quota within quota, the Congress leader said, “We have to go step by step…the first step is X-Ray of India which is caste census – to understand the data for a proper decision….first keep the data on the table, then, I will answer how the Congress will deal with this.”
He also emphasised that to be able to distribute the power fairly among the common people, we need data.
“…Why is the Prime Minister not releasing the earlier data and why is there a delay in conducting the Census? The Prime Minister hails himself as an OBC leader, then why only 3 secretaries are OBCs?” he asked.
To another question about the poor representation of the marginalised communities during the Congress-led UPA government, he said, “It was bad then also, it is bad now too … .we need to change this to give power to the poor.”
He also asserted that the BJP cannot fool the women through their tactics and that implementing a bill 10 years from now, means “nothing.”
His remarks came a day after the Parliament passed the women’s reservation bill after 214 lawmakers present in the Rajya Sabha voted in its favour.
Following the passage of the bill, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the MPs for supporting the legislation and said it is a ‘defining moment’ in India’s history.
The 128th Constitution amendment bill, referred to as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, will now require the approval of a majority of state assemblies.
It will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on a census which the government has said will be commissioned next year.
The Congress and the other opposition parties have been critical of the government for including the census and delimitation clause for the implementation of the Bill.
—IANS

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed his “regrets” that OBC quota was not provided under the Women’s Reservation Bill

100% regret not providing OBC quota under Women’s Reservation Bill in 2010: Rahul

Jaipur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded caste based census and also promised that if Congress comes back to power at the Centre, women reservation bill will be implemented immediately.
Addressing a mammoth gathering in Jaipur, he said: “Caste census will give complete information about who are the people in India, how many women are there and, how many are OBC, how many are Dalits, tribal minorities, and how many are in general category. The Prime Minister talks about OBCs 24 hours a day. If we talk about respect for OBCs, then why is the Prime Minister afraid of caste census,” he questioned.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Central government wants to change the name of the country. “They wanted to rename India as Bharat, that is why they called a special session of the Parliament, but stopped it and brought the Women’s Reservation Bill when they got to know that changing name is not acceptable to public.”
He said that the entire opposition supported women reservation. “We want women reservation to be implemented from today itself, but BJP wants to implement it after 10 years.”
He said that Modi wants to give participation to OBC category, but why is he afraid of caste census. “They are also afraid of Adani. If BJP people come asking for votes, ask them why they are not conducting caste census.”
On OBC, Rahul Gandhi said: “When I did research, I came to know what is the participation of OBC, Dalit and tribal class in our institutions? Today, India is run by the Prime Minister along with 90 officers. He is the secretary of every ministry. The Prime Minister talks about OBCs, but out of these 90 officers, only three are OBCs. They have only five per cent of India’s budget.”
To instill enthusiasm among the Congress workers, Rahul Gandhi said that to see a lion in the forest, one has to work for many hours, but there are thousands of lions sitting in front of me.
He said that in Rajasthan, the government has given a health scheme like Chirnjeevi Yojana and the cylinder is given for Rs 500. “The workers should go and tell the public about all this work.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: “If Congress government comes in 2024, we will immediately implement women reservation bill. President Draupadi Murmu was not invited at the time of inauguration of the new Parliament building. This is an insult to the President. She was not invited because she was a tribal.”
He said that when Ramnath Kovind was the President, he was not invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Parliament House, because he was considered untouchable. “When the untouchables come, they wash the place with Ganga water,” he said.
—IANS

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded caste based census and also promised that if Congress comes back to power at the Centre, women reservation

Rahul promises immediate implementation of women reservation bill if voted to power

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the objectionable remark made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Bidhuri in the Lok Sabha was just another way for the saffron party to distract the people from the idea of the caste census. "What you're seeing today, Bidhuri, and then suddenly this Nishikant Dubey, this is all the BJP trying to distract from the idea of the Caste census," the Congress leader said while addressing an event in the national capital on Sunday.
Further speaking on 'One Nation, One Election', scion of the Gandhi family said, "It's one of the BJP's distraction strategies. The main issues in India are the concentration of wealth, huge inequality in wealth, massive unemployment, and huge unfairness towards the lower caste, OBCs, and tribal communities. These are issues. Now, the BJP can't contest those," he said. 
To distract the people from real issues BJP leaders are giving such statements, advocating one nation one election, asserted Gandhi adding, "These are all distractions. We understand it. And we're not going to let them do it." The Congress leader also expressed confidence in winning the assembly elections in the four states scheduled later this year, and said that at this point, "we are probably winning Telangana, certainly winning Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and are very close in Rajasthan." Hitting out at the BJP, the Congress leader said that the party wins elections by distracting, and not allowing them to construct their narrative. "We learned a very important lesson in Karnataka, and the lesson was that the BJP wins elections by distracting and not allowing us to construct our narrative. And so what we did in Karnataka, we fought the election in a way where the BJP could not define the narrative," he said. When asked about his Bharat Jodo Yatra and his visit to Ladakh, the Congress leader said that the Yatra was a necessity to communicate to the people of India. 
"Yatra was a necessity to communicate. No matter what we say in the Opposition, it does not move through without distortion in the national media. But through the Yatra, no matter how much the national media or the BJP tried to distort, it did not work because of the direct communication," he said. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, started in Kanyakumari on September 7 last year and was led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It was concluded on January 30 in Srinagar after covering 3,970 km, 12 states, and two Union territories and had lasted more than 130 days.
—ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the objectionable remark made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Bidhuri in the Lok Sabha

Bidhuri's remark against BSP MP is "distraction strategy" of BJP from caste census: Rahul Gandhi

Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh): Repeating what he said in the Lok Sabha during his intervention on the Women's Reservation Bill that there are only three OBC bureaucrats working for the government of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why is he scared of the caste census.  "The Government of India is being run by secretaries and cabinet secretaries. Only 3 out of 90 secretaries in the government of India are OBCs. The caste census will be an x-ray of India. With it, we will be able to find how many people belong to SC, ST, Dalit, and general categories," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur
Asking why PM Modi is scared of the caste census, he said that I asked PM Modi to publically share the data from the Census conducted by Congress.  "Why is PM Modi scared of caste census? Why did they not release the caste census report conducted by Congress? Rahul Gandhi in Chhattisgarh," he said.  Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Adani issue, he said that the PM has a remote control, but he presses it 'secretly'.  "When we press the remote (during launching events of schemes), the poor get the benefit of the schemes while when the BJP does it, Adani gets ports, airports, railways contracts, and infrastructure projects, and the public sector gets privatised. There are two remotes we press the remote in front of you but when BJP presses the public sector becomes secretly," he added.  He further said that in previous elections, we made promises regarding strengthening the foundation of Chhattisgarh which were fulfilled by us.  "We fulfilled all our promises including farmers' loan waiver, half of the electricity bill on which PM Modi said Congress party cannot fulfil these promises and we have witnessed that we fulfilled all those promises," he added.  The 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held later this year to elect all 90 members of the House. Congress managed to win 68 seats while BJP was able to ensure victory on 15 seats in the 2018 Assembly elections. Earlier in the day speaking at a rally in Bhopal, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress and former President Rahul Gandhi by taking a jibe at Rahul's interactions with selective groups.  "There is no value for the life of the poor for the Congress leaders born with silver spoons in their mouth. For them, the poor's life is adventure tourism. For them, the houses and colonies of poor people have become the locations for video shootings. They have done this in the past too. BJP government is showing the developed and grand face of the country to the world" the Prime Minister said.  Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will go to the polls along with Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram later this year. In both central Indian states there is a clear fight between the Congress and the BJP.&nbsp;
—ANI

Repeating what he said in the Lok Sabha during his intervention on the Women's Reservation Bill that there are only three OBC bureaucrats

The Hawk

Tag : Census

The next Census will be Digital and the final

Pushkar Raj Kapoor

Tag : Census

The next Census will be Digital and the final

Pushkar Raj Kapoor

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