Mumbai, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : Senior Congress leader Nana Patole has raised concerns regarding the central government’s handling of the caste census, alleging that it seeks to mislead the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. Speaking to the media after a meeting with Maharashtra Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Patole asserted that the government is attempting to classify OBCs as part of the general category through the census process.
Patole highlighted a specific question in the census form, stating that question number 10 suggests an intention to categorize OBCs under the general category. He emphasized the need for a clearer classification that recognizes the diverse castes and sub-castes within the OBC community, such as Kunbi and Banjara, which have different names across states. For instance, the Banjara community is referred to as Lamta in Andhra Pradesh, while in other regions, some communities are known as Kurmi or Jat.
He called for an update to the classification of castes based on linguistic and regional identities to ensure accurate representation in the census. Patole urged the central government to conduct a comprehensive caste census similar to those previously conducted by the governments of Bihar and Telangana, which would ensure fair representation of all communities.
The Congress delegation, in a memorandum submitted to the governor, stressed the importance of updated demographic data for the formulation of social justice, welfare programs, education, and employment policies. They demanded a separate and clear category for OBCs in the national census form, arguing that an accurate count of each caste and sub-caste would help illuminate existing social, economic, and educational disparities.
The memorandum also highlighted the need to gather extensive data on education, economic status, employment participation, and the benefits derived from government schemes to facilitate data-driven policy-making. Patole urged the Maharashtra government to advocate for an independent caste census before the relevant central ministries.
In addition, he addressed the agricultural crisis in the state, citing the impact of prolonged droughts on crops in regions such as Vidarbha, Western Maharashtra, and Marathwada. Patole called for the affected areas to be declared drought-stricken, demanding adequate financial support for farmers and agricultural laborers, as well as provisions for fodder and water for livestock. He suggested that the state government should implement relief measures similar to those adopted in Karnataka to assist distressed farmers.
Leave a Comment