Congress OBC Department Chairman Anil Jaihind (L) with Rahul Gandhi.
Credit: X/@DrJaihind
New Delhi: Congress OBC Department Chairman Anil Jaihind on Tuesday wrote to the Census authorities asking them to make it clear in writing whether caste enumeration will be part of population enumeration next year after finding fault with the omission of references to OBCs in the first phase of the exercise.
In a letter to Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, he asked for an immediate clarification on the omission of OBCs in the questionnaire for phase 1 of Census 2027 -- the Houselisting and House Census exercise.
The objection is raised on Question No 12 in the Houselisting and Housing Census exercise, the first phase of Census 2027, saying it asks whether the head of the household belongs to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or ‘Other’ categories rather than explicitly asking about OBCs.
"The absence of an explicit OBC category-despite its centrality to India's social structure and affirmative action framework-creates ambiguity about whether OBC households will be properly identified, classified, or enumerated at any stage of the Census process," he said claiming that the issue has already raised "serious" questions on the government's "true intentions and commitment" to a comprehensive caste census.
"Does this omission indicate that the Government has abandoned or diluted the OBC Caste Census? The public is aware that the Government had earlier opposed a caste census in Parliament and in the Supreme Court," he said, adding that a reversal was announced only under the "strong pressure" of Leader of Opposition Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress and people at large.
However, he said, the the first official questionnaire released does not reflect this commitment and "contradiction has created widespread apprehension" that the OBC caste census "may be delayed, diluted, or abandoned"
Demanding a "clear written clarification" on whether OBC enumeration will be included in Phase-2, specific questions will be asked to capture OBC caste data and whether the methodology has been finalised, he said there is a need for immediate publication of the proposed caste-enumeration framework given the national importance of caste data for policy, welfare and representation,
He said the methodology must be transparent and subject to public and expert scrutiny, as he demanded for consultation with political parties, state governments and civil society.
"As emphasized by several national leaders and experts, meaningful caste enumeration requires broad consultation, similar to the Telangana model of comprehensive caste-socioeconomic data collection. The Census is the most important demographic exercise of the Republic. Any ambiguity in its design-especially regarding caste enumeration-risks undermining public trust and the accuracy of national data," he added.