Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday reaffirmed the demand for a caste-based census in the country, despite the Center explicitly stating in Parliament that no enumeration would be done except for SCs and STs, saying the exercise would help plan welfare schemes. will help to create. Apart from Dalits, other poor also. Kumar said the Bihar assembly has twice unanimously passed resolutions in favor of a caste-based census in 2019 and 2020 and urged the central government to “think about it”. The de facto leader of the JD(U) said though the caste census began in 2010 and a report came in 2013, it was never released. “The caste-based census should be conducted at least once. It will be easier for the government to identify the poor other than Dalits and help them formulate schemes for their welfare”, Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of handing over 350 ambulances to the beneficiaries. . Chief Minister Village Transport Scheme (MGPY) here.
His remarks came days after the central government informed Parliament that the Center would not count the population on the basis of caste other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the census. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, while answering a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, said that the government has decided not to conduct census on the basis of castes other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes as per the policy. As per the provisions of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population, as far as may be. In the census, those castes and tribes which are specifically notified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in accordance with the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (as amended from time to time) is calculated. “We have already passed a resolution in the assembly in favor of caste-based census in 2019 and 2020. We have also sent it to the central government. We have been raising the issue since 1990. Caste-based census at least once. There should be development and welfare of people other than SCs and STs. The central government should consider this,” Kumar said.
The caste-based census, in particular, has been a demand raised from time to time by most of the OBC politicians in Bihar due to the churning of the 1990s following the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. Not surprisingly, even arch rivals like Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad are on the same page on the issue.
There has been no census on caste in India since the last census in 1931. Responding to a question on alleged phone tapping of prominent personalities in the country using Israeli Pegasus spyware, he said, “I have already said that this is wrong. I have always said that the new technology has advantages and disadvantages.” To a question on illegal sand mining in the state and alleged nexus between public servants and sand mafia, Kumar said, “Strict action will be taken against erring government officials.” The state police and concerned departments have already started investigation against the suspected government. Officials said, “All district magistrates and superintendents of police have been given strict instructions to keep proper vigil in their respective districts. Around 20 government officials, including some SPs, were recently transferred for alleged nexus with sand mafia in the state Was.
When asked about his response to the stand of the Central Government that there have been no deaths due to lack of oxygen by the States/UTs, especially during the second wave of COVID-19, the Bihar Chief Minister said, Took all possible measures to make it happen. Medical oxygen for critically ill patients in government as well as private Covid designated hospitals during the second wave of COVID-19 in the state. “Our government hospitals are now very well prepared. Our hospitals in the state are fully prepared for a possible third wave. Oxygen generation plants are being set up in all district hospitals in the state.” Meanwhile, handing over 350 ambulances to the beneficiaries under the MGPY scheme, Kumar flagged off 50 new CNG buses plying on the roads of Patna.
read all Breaking Newshandjob breaking news And coronavirus news Here
.