Bihar government on Monday released the much-awaited caste census data conducted in the State, reported the Hindu.
After the publication, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar congratulated the survey team while Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav termed the occasion a “historic moment”.
Bihar Caste Census Report
As per the report titled Bihar Jaati Adharit Ganana (Bihar caste-based survey), the Bahujan population in the state stands at 84.48% while the General category comprises 15.52% of the state’s total population.
Among the Bahujans, the Other Backward Class (OBC) population in the State is 27.1286%, the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) is 36.0148%, the Scheduled Caste population is 19.6518%, the Scheduled Tribe population is 1.6824% and Muslims 17%. The survey puts the General category population at 15.5224%.
Thus, the Bahujan-Backward classes comprise 84.48% of the total population while the remaining 15.52% include the General category and Brahmanical upper castes. The Other Backward Classes (inclusive of EBCs) alone account for over 63% of the total population.
According to the Wire, from the last caste census conducted in 1931 by the British, the population of OBC-EBC groups has seen a 10% jump. It maybe noted that the 1931 census was conducted in the then undivided India, including present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The survey report, has also said that the total population in the state is 13 crore. Among the Other Backward Class group, the Yadavs comprise 14.26% while the Kushwaha and Kurmi castes from 4.27% and 2.87% respectively.
According to the Hindu, the caste survey had 17-point socio-economic indicators, including caste. It was completed in a three phased exercise in August this year with around 2.64 lakh enumerators documenting the details of 29 million registered households. The 214 castes mentioned in the survey were allotted different individual codes.
Political Reactions
It will be the basis of development and upliftment of all sections: Nitish Kumar
“Today, on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the data of caste-based census conducted in Bihar have been published. The proposal for the survey was passed unanimously in the legislature,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar posted on the microblogging site X. “All nine political parties in the Assembly will now be called for a meeting to apprise them of the report.”
आज गांधी जयंती के शुभ अवसर पर बिहार में कराई गई जाति आधारित गणना के आंकड़े प्रकाशित कर दिए गए हैं। जाति आधारित गणना के कार्य में लगी हुई पूरी टीम को बहुत-बहुत बधाई !
जाति आधारित गणना के लिए सर्वसम्मति से विधानमंडल में प्रस्ताव पारित किया गया था।…
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) October 2, 2023
Bihar has set an example before the country: Tejashwi Yadav
Deputy Chief Minister, and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Tejashwi Yadav said, “Bihar once again became witness of a historic moment with the compilation of caste based survey data and its release thereafter in such a short time. Bihar has now drawn a long line and set an example before the country. What has happened in Bihar today, shall have its voice heard tomorrow across the whole country. And tomorrow is not far ahead. Bihar once again has shown light to the country.”
Share should be according to their population: Rahul Gandhi
The Congress called upon the Centre to hold a similar exercise at the national level immediately. Former party president Rahul Gandhi said the census had proved that 84% of the people in the State belonged to the OBCs, SCs and STs and their share should be according to their population.
बिहार की जातिगत जनगणना से पता चला है कि वहां OBC + SC + ST 84% हैं।
केंद्र सरकार के 90 सचिवों में सिर्फ़ 3 OBC हैं, जो भारत का मात्र 5% बजट संभालते हैं!
इसलिए, भारत के जातिगत आंकड़े जानना ज़रूरी है। जितनी आबादी, उतना हक़ – ये हमारा प्रण है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 2, 2023
Now Govt must do caste census at the national: Mayawati
Former UP CM, Mayawati welcomed the survey and said that BSP is happy that the country’s politics is taking a new turn in favor of the neglected ‘Bahujan Samaj‘.
Describing the Bihar survey as the first step towards ensuring the constitutional rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati said the U.P. government should now change its intentions and policies as per the public sentiments and start the caste census/survey immediately. “…
2. बीएसपी को प्रसन्नता है कि देश की राजनीति उपेक्षित ’बहुजन समाज’ के पक्ष में इस कारण नया करवट ले रही है, जिसका नतीजा है कि एससी/एसटी आरक्षण को निष्क्रिय व निष्प्रभावी बनाने तथा घोर ओबीसी व मण्डल विरोधी जातिवादी एवं साम्प्रदायिक दल भी अपने भविष्य के प्रति चिन्तित नजर आने लगे हैं।
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) October 3, 2023
But the right solution will be found only when the central government conducts the caste census at the national level and gives Bahujan-Backwards their due rights, she added.
3. वैसे तो यूपी सरकार को अब अपनी नीयत व नीति में जन भावना व जन अपेक्षा के अनुसार सुधार करके जातीय जनगणना/सर्वे अविलम्ब शुरू करा देना चाहिए, किन्तु इसका सही समाधान तभी होगा जब केन्द्र सरकार राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर जातीय जनगणना कराकर उन्हें उनका वाजिब हक देना सुनिश्चित करेगी।
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) October 3, 2023
Was Never against Caste Survey: Giriraj Singh
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar said it was never against the caste survey. “The BJP has always been in favour of the caste survey, said senior state BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh.
Much needed for social consciousness against social injustice: Akhilesh Yadav
Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said that “the caste census will not open a new path of 85-15 conflict but of cooperation and those who are not domineering but are supporters of everyone’s rights, they support and welcome it…When people come to know how many they are, then a self-confidence awakens among them and also a social consciousness against social injustice, due to which their unity increases and they can unite and overcome the obstacles coming in the way of their progress. We do this, create new paths and also end the injustice being done by the powers that be and the traditional powerful people of the society. With this, the society moves on the path of equality and the country develops in an integrated manner. Caste census is the path to progress of the country.”
बिहार जाति आधारित जनगणना प्रकाशित : ये है सामाजिक न्याय का गणतीय आधार।
जातिगत जनगणना 85-15 के संघर्ष का नहीं बल्कि सहयोग का नया रास्ता खोलेगी और जो लोग प्रभुत्वकामी नहीं हैं बल्कि सबके हक़ के हिमायती हैं, वो इसका समर्थन भी करते हैं और स्वागत भी।जो सच में अधिकार दिलवाना चाहते हैं…
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 2, 2023
Public Reactions
आज ओबीसी के साथ होने वाले धोखे की पोल खुल गई है
63% आबादी को मात्र 27% आरक्षण
15% आबादी का शानदार 10% आरक्षणओबीसी को धार्मिक उन्माद की राजनीति से हटकर अपने हक के लिए आवाज उठानी चाहिए
— Youth Against Hate (@YouthAgnstHate) October 2, 2023
ये आँकड़े 2024 चुनाव की दिशा बदलने जा रहे हैं !
बिहार सरकार ने जाति जनगणना के आँकड़े जारी किए।
OBC+EBC= 63%
SC+ST= 21%
Gen- 15.5% pic.twitter.com/aSsEEy9nAb— Vipin Patel (@ImVipinPa29) October 2, 2023
रात भर नींद नहीं आया सोचते सोचते 14% कैसे हो गया।
लास्ट में याद आया #लालू_नाम उसका गिनती में गाय भैंस को भी जुड़वा दिया होगा लगता है 😂
बिहार जाति घोटाला#biharCasteCensus #BiharCasteSurvey #जातिगत_जनगणना pic.twitter.com/DhZ2dNHrGh— Rajput's Of INDIA (@rajput_of_india) October 3, 2023
#BiharCasteSurvey revealed that OBCs constituted 63% of the state's total population while they(NCL) get only 30% reservation. Scheduled Castes are 19.6% while they get only 16% reservation. General are 15%, While EWS get 10% reservation. pic.twitter.com/7Sxyz1aVoQ
— Manish Sagar (@semlhagyatso) October 2, 2023
Bihar Caste Based Survey released:
Backward Classes: 27.13%
Extremely Backward Class: 36.01%
Scheduled Castes: 19.65%
Scheduled Tribes: 1.68%
Upper Castes: 15.52% #CasteCensus #जातिगत_जनगणना #BiharCasteSurvey pic.twitter.com/zrtup53i8L— Bahujan Lives Matter (@BahujanLives) October 2, 2023
जातिगत जनगणना के बाद हमारा वैशाली और हमारा पड़ोसी शहर मुजफ्फरपुर..!!❤
#biharCasteCensus
#BiharCasteSurvey pic.twitter.com/IJjs1RHwFP— Shandilya kajal Singh(kajuu ) (@iBhumihar_Girl) October 3, 2023
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