Bihar Cabinet Clears Caste-Based Survey, Allocates Rs 500 Crore For Exercise

CM Nitish Kumar has said that Bihar government will soon announce the entire programme of the census in public domain. 

Nitish Kumar with Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad and others addressing a press conference after the all party meeting on the caste-based census in Bihar. (Image: Getty)

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government on Thursday gave approval to a caste-based census days Centre's inability to conduct the survey. Accoring to reports, a budgetary allocation of Rs 500 crore has been made for the exercise which will ve completed by February, next year. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Kumar earlier in the day.

Leaders of all nine political parties represented in the Assembly were present in the meeting and gave some important suggestions to the Chief Minister.

"We will conduct a caste-based census at the expense of the state government and after the approval of the cabinet of the Bihar government. The points and expenses related to caste-based census will be passed through the cabinet," Nitish Kumar said.

He also said that the state government will soon announce the entire programme of the census in public domain. 

Asked about any objection being raised by the BJP during the meeting, Nitish Kumar said: "The leader of BJP was present in the delegation when we went to New Delhi for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its leaders are present here as well. So there is no confusion or objection from the leader of the saffron party."

Speaking to reports, Chief Secretary of Bihar Amir Subhan, the exercise mwill be carried out by General administration deptartment and on district level, District Magistrate (DM) will be nodal officer. 

Both of these will be incharge of panchayat level and block level.

"During this, efforts would be made to take survey on economic basis. Rs 500 crores will be given for the survey. An aim to complete it by 2023 has been set," Subhan said after the meeting. 

Reacting to the decision, Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav termed it a victory for his party President Lalu Prasad Yadav and the party.

"Lalu Ji was demanding a caste-based census for a long time. We have taken initiatives for it several times, like when I had written a letter to the Chief Minister for an all-party delegation to meet the Prime minister. Over all, we have fought at every stage for caste-based census. So it is a win for us and Lalu Ji," Tejashwi Yadav, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said.

He also said that Centre is conducting a census and if it would have agreed on adding one more column, there would be no need for an additional caste-based census to be conducted separately by state governments. 

"As there is a flood situation in Bihar every year, I have suggested that he start the survey from November this year. At that time, a large number of migrant people return home for the celebration of Chatth festival," he added.