Odisha to approach Centre for caste-wise enumeration of SEBCs, OBCs during 2021 census

Odisha government on Saturday decided to approach Centre to conduct a socio-ecomic caste enumeration during general census in 2021.

state government made decision during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

During meeting, Cabinet unanimously adopted a resolution to move Centre so that an enumeration of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and Or Backward Classes (SEBC/OBC) be conducted along with general census, Law Minister Pratap Jena said.

This can be done eir by inserting suitable columns in Census format or by prescribing a separate format for a simultaneous enumeration of SEBCs and OBCs, he said.

Cabinet also resolved to impress upon Centre to ensure that se enumeration details are published without any delay, minister said.

This will enable state government to accelerate pace of development of se communities, leading to an inclusive growth with greater momentum, he said.

"As we are commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, this will be a fitting tribute to his idea of India guided by his Talisman in which welfare of poorest and weakest becomes core objective of state," added Jena.

cabinet passed resolution, ting that formal census including caste details of population has been undertaken since 1931.

Due to n-availability of reliable and auntic data about exact number of SEB Cand OBC population, geographical areas of ir spread and density, ensuring focussed and outcome-specific planning is becoming a challenging task, Jena said.

Cabinet meeting pointed out re is provision to enumerate details of SEBC and OBC population despite such an exercise having been conducted in 2011, said Jena.

full data of 2011 census is yet to be released, he said.

"Mahatma Gandhi, Far of Nation, considered ecomic equality to be master-key to complete independence. He said my idea of society is that while we are born equal, meaning that we have a right to equal opportunity. 

makers of Indian Constitution took cognizance of this reality and sought to address challenges through enabling Constitutional provisions," resolution, seeking a caste-wise enumeration of SEBC and OBC population, read.