'Caste Data For Dusty Archives Or Reforms?' Tejashwin Writes To PM Modi On Census

Tejashwi Yadav wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming the Centre's decision to include caste-based data in the national census.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav assured the PM of Bihar's cooperation in utilizing the census findings for genuine social transformation.

Source : PTI

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Friday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming the Centre's decision to include caste-based data in the national census. 

Terming the Centre's decision "a transformative moment in our nation's journey towards equality", he urged the government to ensure the data leads to meaningful policy reforms. 

"... Your belated decision represents an acknowledgement of the groundswell of demands from the citizens who have long been relegated to the margins of society," said the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader in his letter dated May 2. 

"The census data must lead to a comprehensive review of social protection and reservation policies. The arbitrary cap on reservations will also have to be reconsidered... The redrawing of constituencies should be sensitive to and reflective of the census data," the letter read. 

Former Bihar Dy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav writes a letter to PM Narendra Modi on the Centre's decision to include caste census in the national census.

The letter reads, "... Your belated decision represents an acknowledgement of the groundswell of demands from the… pic.twitter.com/3n8OfX8FtK

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The RJD leaders also stressed the need for the private sector to align with social justice goals.  "The context created by the caste census must be used to have open conversations about inclusivity and diversity in the private sector across organisational hierarchies,"  he said. 

He also questioned whether the data will be used for systemic reforms or will it be confined to "dusty archives". 

"The question is: will the data be used as a catalyst for systemic reforms, or will it be confined to dusty archives like many previous commission reports?" he questioned. 

Yadav referred to the Bihar caste survey, which revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Class (EBCs) constitute around 63 per cent of the state's population. He added that a similar data at the national level could shatter many myths perpetuated to maintain the status quo.

The former Deputy CM ensured the PM of Bihar's cooperation saying, "As Bihar's representative, where the caste survey opened many eyes to ground realities, I assure you of constructive cooperation in utilising the census findings for genuine social transformation.