BC caste census in AP from November 15: Minister

Kakinada: BC welfare and information minister Ch. Srinivasa Venu Gopalakrishna on Tuesday disclosed that the census to enumerate the number of people belonging to backward classes in Andhra Pradesh will commence from November 15.

He maintained that caste census is a historical decision of AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. A committee will be formed with a senior IAS officer, which will formulate a detailed action plan for enumeration of BCs.

Speaking to reporters here, Venu Gopalakrishna said that as he is the BC welfare minister, the CM has entrusted him the responsibility of overseeing the census for enumerating the backward classes.

“It is my fortune,” he stated.

The minister maintained that once BCs are enumerated, plans can be made accordingly for development of backward classes towards improving their living standards.

Giving the historical background, he pointed out that calculation of castes started in India in 1901. The census continued in 1911,1921 and 1931. But due to the second world war in 1941, there had been no census. He underlined that since Independence, census has been carried out in India once every ten years since 1951. He clarified that except scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, other castes are not enumerated.

Venu Gopalakrishna said that the committee headed by the IAS officer will examine how other states have carried out the BC census and the criteria and systems they followed for the purpose. After receiving such information, the caste census for BCs will start from November 15.

He underlined that village and ward secretariat personnel will be actively involved in the caste census.

He further said before launching of the BC census, a number of round table meetings with different caste elders and leaders will be held and their opinions taken.

The BC minister asserted that the YSRC government will fulfil the dream of BCs in the state.