Congress Demands Caste-Based Census Amid Budget Cuts

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has called for a discussion in Lok Sabha on the need for a caste-based census. He voiced concerns over the reduced budget for the Census, highlighting its importance for social justice and targeted welfare. Key financial bills will also be discussed in Parliament today.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday pushed for a discussion in Lok Sabha regarding the urgent need for a caste-based census. Tagore issued an adjournment motion notice, emphasizing the critical necessity of collecting caste-based data.

Tagore criticized the government's decision to slash the Census budget from Rs 3,768 crore to Rs 1,309.46 crore, expressing concerns over its implications for effective data gathering and social justice. He urged the government to prioritize the completion of the caste-based census to enable equitable progress and welfare for marginalized communities. The Congress party has committed to conducting a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to detail castes, sub-castes, and their socio-economic conditions.

Additionally, the Lok Sabha will deliberate today on the Finance Bill for the financial year 2024-2025, initially moved by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman will present The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2024, to authorize payments and appropriations for the Union territory for the same fiscal year. The budget session of Parliament, which began on July 22, is set to conclude on August 12.