Caste-based census essential for equal rights and opportunities: CM

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday said that a caste-based census was essential to devise schemes and enact legislations to provide equal rights and opportunities in education, employment, and the economy for the people.

Delivering an address at the third national conference of the All India Federation for Social Justice, he said the BJP government must immediately commence the decennial census that was due in 2021, along with a caste-based survey.

According to him, the BJP was reluctant to conduct them as they would pave the way for genuine social justice. “By refusing a caste-based survey, it refuses social justice and by delaying reservation for women, it refuses women’s rights,” Mr. Stalin alleged.

He also recalled the resolution adopted in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, urging the Union government to conduct a caste-based census immediately.

“The BJP government resists a caste-based census, just as it resisted women’s reservation,” he said.

Mr. Stalin further said that after coming to power in the State, the DMK established the Adi Dravida-Tribal Commission, the Social Justice Commission, and the Social Justice Monitoring Committee. These panels oversaw adherence to principles of social justice in education, employment, appointments, and promotions. “Similar committees must be formed in all States,” the Chief Minister said.

Alleging that the 27% reservation for the Backward Classes had not been fully implemented in departments of the Union government, he said the BJP did not want the poor, the disadvantaged, the Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, or the Scheduled Tribes to progress. That is why it opposed social justice.

“It is hell-bent on introducing economic criterion in reservation. We do not oppose financial assistance for the poor and needy. However, we are opposed to extending reservation — which should be provided on the basis of social backwardness — to the general category, solely based on economic criterion,” he added.

Published - December 04, 2024 02:36 am IST