2011 Census: No word on caste as parameter

The last caste-based census in the country was in 1931,and there have been demands for making the 2011 Census caste-based to get an accurate estimate of the OBC population in the country. There was no mention of caste as one of the parameters in the ministers reply,but Maken added in his reply that the questionnaire to be canvassed during population enumeration will be finalised by a Technical Advisory Committee TAC constituted for the purpose.

In response to Dikshits question whether the government had finalised the questionnaires for the next census,Maken,in his written reply,said: The first phase of the Census operations which is House-listing and Housing Census is scheduled to be conducted during April-September 2010. The main purpose of the House-listing and Housing Census is to prepare the frame for undertaking population enumeration,besides providing host of data on housing stock,amenities and the assets available for each of the households. The government has finalised the questionnaire to be canvassed during the House-listing and Housing Census in 2010.

Maken informed that the population enumeration would come under the second phase,and that the questionnaire for the same would be finalised by the TAC.