Caste Census: Revanth Tells Centre To Form Group Of Ministers For Study

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday suggested the NDA government at the Centre to appoint a group of Central ministers and an expert committee of officials to engage with stakeholders and others for the caste census.

Addressing the media here, Reddy, while thanking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government for its decision to take up the caste enumeration along with the general census, said Telangana model can be emulated across the country, as the southern state was the "role model".

He also suggested the Central government engage in discussion with all political parties and civil societies before taking up the caste census with timeframes. He said the caste study in Telangana was taken up after several consultations with stakeholders by a group of state ministers and time has come that Central and state governments should work together.

“I have one suggestion for Narendra Modi or the Central government. First appoint a group of ministers, and an experts committee with officials. This group of ministers and experts committee will go to every state and discuss with the state governments and take suggestions from them.

Then prepare the terms of reference for the caste census,” Revanth Reddy said. He said the Telangana government will fully cooperate on the issue and is willing to share its experience and challenges with the Centre.

According to him one year is sufficient to complete the whole exercise of the caste census across the country as per the Telangana' experience. In a major decision, the Central government on Wednesday decided to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census exercise in a "transparent" manner.

Quoting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who suggested the centre to take Telangana as a role model for the caste census, Revanth Reddy said it was the Leader of Opposition who promised the enumeration during his Bharat Jodo yatra.

“Telangana model will become effective for every state. We are not trying to dominate anybody. We have no objection if you learnt from the Telangana model. We are ready to cooperate,” he said.

Refusing to comment on a possible political motive behind the Centre's decision to take up caste enumeration the CM said ultimately the SC, ST, BC and minorities of the country should enjoy

the fruits.