Rajasthan Government Orders Caste Survey Ahead of Assembly Polls

The Rajasthan government, led by the Congress party, issued an order on Saturday, October 7th to conduct a caste-based survey in the state. The decision comes just days after Bihar released the findings of its own caste survey and precedes the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan slated for later this year. This makes Rajasthan only the second state in India to undertake such a population count.

Government's Initiative Towards Social Justice

The order was sanctioned by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment following approval from the state cabinet. As per this directive, the Rajasthan government will utilize its own resources to gather data pertaining to social, economic, and educational levels across all citizens within its jurisdiction. By doing so, it aims to gain insights into various socio-economic aspects associated with different castes residing in Rajasthan.

Planning Economic and Statistics Department: The Nodal Agency

The Department of Planning Economic and Statistics has been designated as the nodal department responsible for overseeing this substantial task. However, while there is clarity regarding which department will spearhead this initiative, no specific timeline has been provided for when this comprehensive population count is expected to be completed.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s Announcement

Rajasthan's Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had earlier informed reporters that an official announcement regarding this matter would soon be made public. His statement came true with issuance of this recent order mandating a statewide caste-based census.

Bihar’s Caste Survey Findings Released on Gandhi Jayanti

In related news from Bihar - another Indian state that recently conducted a similar caste-based census - findings were published on October 2nd; coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. The Nitish Kumar-led government revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute a significant proportion of Bihar's population.

In conclusion, the decision by Rajasthan government to conduct a caste survey is an important step towards understanding the socio-economic conditions of various castes in the state. The data collected from this exercise will play a crucial role in shaping future policies and initiatives aimed at social justice and empowerment. It also sets precedence for other states to follow suit in order to gain better insights into their own demographic compositions. However, it remains to be seen how effectively this mammoth task will be executed given that no specific timeline has been provided for its completion.