Caste-based census gets GoM nod, to begin in Dec

New Delhi, Aug 12: The Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to on caste census, has given its nod to the enumeration of caste in Census 2011.

The GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, gave its approval to caste-based census on Wednesday, Aug 11, putting an end to month-long debates and discussions. The GoM consulted all political parities before taking the final decision in a meeting here.

As per reports, enumeration on caste-lines will begin in Dec 2010. Sources have revealed that the GoM has recommended that the caste headcount should be done at the biometric stage.

While the first phase of the census, which involves house list enumeration, is already underway, the comprehensive caste-based census will take place in the third stage.

During this phase, biometric signs, which includes photographing, fingerprinting and iris-mapping, of citizens will be collected for the National Population Register (NPR).

The GoM was set up after several political parties such as the Samajwadi Party, RJD and JD(U) demanded caste-based census during the budget session of the parliament in May 2010.

OneIndia News