Bihar caste-based census begins, CM Nitish Kumar says the exercise will benefit all communities

Patna (Bihar): The caste-based survey’s first phase begins in Bihar on January 7. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that “the enumeration exercise will give enable the government to scientifically carry out development work in the state for the benefit of the poor”.

The Deputy Chief Minister also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for its “anti-poor” policies and said the opposition party did not want the survey to be conducted.

The second phase of the survey, likely to be held from April 1 to April 30, will collect data about people of all castes, sub-castes, socioeconomic conditions, etc.

Across all 38 districts, caste-based headcount will be conducted in two stages. In the first phase, which will be over by January 21, the number of all households in the state will be counted.

On June 2, 2022, the Bihar cabinet took the decision to caste census. The survey would cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores in an estimated 2.58 crore households in 38 districts, which have 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies.

The survey will be completed by May 31, 2023.

On January 6, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the government had trained officials to carry out the caste-based census taking into consideration the sub-castes in the State and the financial status of the citizens. He also stated that the census would be beneficial for the development of the state and the country.

During the ‘Samadhan Yatra’ in Sheohar District Nitish Kumar said, “We have trained our officers to conduct a detailed caste census. This will benefit the development of the state and also the country,”.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar began Samadhan Yatra on January 5 to review the implementation of government schemes and hold meetings with officials. He began the yatra from West Champaran’s Bettiah.