What Are Congress' Ambitious Plans for the Caste Census?

New Delhi, May 4 (NationPress) The Congress party has urged its leaders to actively advocate for the caste census during the ongoing ‘Samvidhan Bachao (Save the Constitution)’ rallies nationwide.

Since April 25, Congress has been conducting the Samvidhan Bachao rallies across various states, and now it seeks to incorporate the CWC resolutions regarding the caste census.

On Saturday, the party circulated a directive titled "Implementation of CWC Resolution on Caste Census – during the Scheduled Samvidhan Bachao Rallies" to its state leaders, Congress legislature party representatives, general secretaries, secretaries, and all affiliated organizations.

The directive from party general secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that due to the “consistent and principled advocacy of the Indian National Congress, the Modi Government, which had previously mocked, postponed, and dismissed this demand, has now been forced to acknowledge the legitimate and democratic call for a caste-wise census.”

It noted that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had formally communicated with the Prime Minister, reiterating the party’s request for a thorough and updated caste census. Rahul Gandhi has also strongly emphasized that social justice necessitates a caste census.

On May 2, the Congress Working Committee engaged in extensive discussions about the caste census.

The CWC Resolution passed during this meeting demanded: immediate enforcement of Article 15(5) of the Constitution to facilitate reservations for OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions; conducting the caste census promptly, without any pretext or bureaucratic delay; establishing a transparent, time-bound process that includes immediate Parliamentary debate and full budgetary allocation; designing the questionnaire, enumeration, classification, and publication of data in a participatory and inclusive manner; and utilizing updated caste data to evaluate and enhance reservation policies, education, employment, and targeted welfare.

The party has also outlined action points for its state leaders – to vocally and visibly advocate for this demand during the upcoming Samvidhan Bachao Rallies set to occur in all states and districts.

Additionally, the party has instructed its members to specifically call for the immediate implementation of Article 15(5), establish state-level control rooms under the PCCs for monitoring implementation, and appoint dedicated observers at the district level to oversee and coordinate all activities and reporting.

Leaders are encouraged to conduct outreach during the Assembly-level Samvidhan Bachao rallies and house-to-house campaigns planned until May 30.

These activities include organizing Chaupal meetings with active involvement from social activists, civil society members, educators, lawyers, shopkeepers, SHG participants, and Bahujan communities; disseminating the Congress Party’s historical and ongoing commitments at the grassroots level, highlighting the leadership role of Rahul Gandhi; exposing the BJP’s anti-Bahujan ideology, its opposition to caste enumeration, and its efforts to undermine social justice; and mobilizing widespread public support for the caste census and the full implementation of Article 15(5).

The party has also urged its leaders to conduct state-specific press conferences in each Assembly constituency, with regular media updates at the Assembly level, coordinated with the AICC Communication Department. All PCCs must collaborate closely with the AICC Social Media Department to ensure that party members, youth leaders, and elected officials actively post on all platforms, amplifying the Congress Party’s demand for a caste census, Rahul Gandhi’s leadership role, the CWC resolution, and the BJP’s history of caste denial and anti-Bahujan actions.

Venugopal has emphasized treating this campaign as a top priority and submitting weekly reports on the progress of each action point.

Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government has granted approval for a caste census during the next national enumeration.