Much talked about caste census begins in Bihar

PATNA, Bihar: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Government of Bihar began the caste census in the state on January 7. The decision about the caste census was taken by the state cabinet last year on June 2, after the central government refused to conduct the same survey at the national level. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar met with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, to discuss the issue.

The door-to-door survey will cover around 12.70 crore people residing in 2.58 crore households spread across 38 districts, further branching into 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies (ULBs).

The estimated cost of the survey stands at around ₹500 crore, and the survey will be conducted in two phases. Caste survey would collect the data of people of all castes, sub-castes and religious groups. First phase of the survey will be completed by January 21, and second phase will begin in April. The entire exercise would be completed on May 31, 2023.   

Chandrashekhar Singh, District Magistrate, Patna, while speaking about the caste census, said, “We’ve started the caste survey today, first phase will be held from Jan 7 to Jan 21. The second phase will be held in April in which information related to socio-economics will be taken. There are a total of 20 lakh families in Patna, which will be counted in first phase.”