Patna: Bihar Saturday began the enumeration of households in the State, which is part of the first phase of caste-based census. The entire exercise will be done in two phases. The first phase counting of the households will be complete by January 21, according to government sources. The second phase will begin in March.
The data pertaining to people of all castes, sub-castes and religions will be collected. Enumerators, whose training began on December 15, will also record information about the financial status of every denizen. The exercise will be completed by May, 2023. Earlier, the exercise was supposed to be completed by February 2023.
The state government will spend Rs 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise. The general administration department is the nodal authority for the survey. Caste-based count has been a major issue in Bihar politics, with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and all constituents of the 'Mahagathbandhan' long been demanding that the exercise be undertaken at the earliest.
The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had agreed to conduct the exercise at the national level in 2010, but the data collected during the census were never processed. The state government embarked on the exercise in the wake of the Centre expressing its inability to undertake caste-based enumeration other than the SCs and STs.
It has been the contention of Nitish Kumar, himself an OBC, and the RJD, which emerged in the thick of the Mandal era, a fresh estimate of various social groups was essential since the last caste census held in 1931. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said the purpose of the exercise is to carry out developmental work for the people who are deprived.
Jaati Aadharit Ganana
"The caste-based headcount will be beneficial for all... It will enable the government to work for the development of various sections of the society, including those who are deprived. After completion of the enumeration exercise..., the final report will be sent to Centre also," Kumar said while interacting with reporters on the second day of his 'Samadhan Yatra' in Sheohar district.
"The exercise is basically 'Jaati Aadharit Ganana'. People belonging to every religion and caste will be covered during the exercise. Proper training has been imparted to officials who are involved in the process of conducting the caste-based headcount", Kumar said.
"Data will be collected digitally through a mobile application as part of the survey, from the panchayat to the district level. The app will have questions about place, caste, the number of people in a family, their profession, and annual income. Census workers include teachers, Anganwadi, MGNREGA or Jeevika workers", Chandrashekhar Singh, Patna District Magistrate had said.
