Caste census: GoM to decide

A group of ministers (GoM) led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will take a “political decision” on whether to include caste in the ongoing census operation.

A group of ministers (GoM) led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will take a “political decision” on whether to include caste in the ongoing census operation.

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“The GoM has been notified…. It comprises representatives from all UPA allies,” a senior government source told HT on Tuesday.

The panel has been asked to “examine the cabinet note on caste census”.

The cabinet note had sought a decision on the desirability of reversing the existing policy of not collecting individual caste data, as well as the modalities of doing so, in case such a decision was taken.

The group — which includes Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Law Minister Veerappa Moily — is being formed about a fortnight after Cabinet failed to decide if a caste headcount was desirable.

The home ministry has made it clear that it is not equipped to process the vast array of responses that a question on castes will throw up. It has sought permission to hand over the data to the ministry of social justice and empowerment.