Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has expressed strong support for the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census.
BJD president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hailed the move, emphasizing that his party has long advocated for a caste-based census to promote social justice.
In a post on X, Patnaik stated, “We welcome the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census. @bjd_odisha has consistently demanded a nationwide caste census and the removal of the 50% reservation cap.”
He highlighted that Odisha had taken steps in 2023 to enumerate different social classes to facilitate targeted development and upliftment programs.
Patnaik added that the Central government’s decision aligns with these objectives, reinforcing the BJD’s commitment to social justice for marginalized groups, including Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The Union government announced on Wednesday that the next Census will transparently incorporate caste enumeration, criticizing opposition parties for politicizing the issue.
The decision follows persistent demands from the Congress and other opposition parties, who have made the caste census a key electoral issue. States like Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have already conducted similar surveys.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, clarified that the Census is a Central government responsibility.
He accused some states of conducting caste surveys non-transparently, which has raised concerns.
The announcement comes ahead of Assembly elections in Bihar, where several parties, including some BJP allies, have voiced support for a caste-based census.
