NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution asking the Centre to use only officially recognised caste names while collecting data on Other Backward Classes during the second phase of the 2027 Census.The resolution covers Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities listed by the Tamil Nadu and Union governments. It also calls for these official lists to be built into the census portal so that people can select their caste from a fixed list rather than enter names themselves.The resolution said caste details should be collected for these communities in the same manner as data for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Why Tamil Nadu wants fixed caste names
Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V Sampathkumar, who moved the resolution, said allowing people to enter different names for the same caste could create confusion, particularly when regional variations are involved.He said such ambiguity could make enumeration difficult and affect the usefulness of the census data.“Hence, the exercise must stick to official names alone as per the notifications of the state and union governments to ensure social justice and equal justice,” he said.The minister suggested that the official lists of BCs, MBCs and Denotified Communities should be pre-loaded into the census enumeration portal or application. Enumerators or respondents could then select the relevant caste using a ‘drop-down menu’.The resolution also called for the ‘open-column method’ to be completely avoided while collecting details of these communities.
OBC caste data absent from post-Independence Census
The Assembly said caste-wise data on OBCs has not been included in censuses conducted after Independence. It argued that accurate information is therefore needed based on the official lists notified by the state and Union governments in accordance with the Constitution.“In order to ensure social justice for all sections of society, this Assembly unanimously resolves to urge the union government to collect the caste details of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities during the second phase of the 2027 census of India, in the same manner as followed for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.”
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The resolution was passed after legislators, including members of the AIADMK and PMK, spoke in its support.DMK MLAs were not present during the debate and passage of the resolution after they were evicted from the House following a ruckus. Despite their absence, the resolution was passed unanimously.
