Tag: census

Police Distributing Census Forms, Seeking Details Across Srinagar

[ad_1]
SRINAGAR: Police have been distributing “census” forms across Srinagar, seeking personal details of people including their phone numbers and occupation, reported Hindustan Times
Police acknowledged the conduct of the exercise, but refused to cite the reasons for it. Notably, the economics and statistics department said the Government of India has not started any census exercise in Kashmir.
“Officially the government of India has not yet notified the start of the census,” Srinagar district statistics and evaluation officer Anika Mushtaq said, adding that she went through the forms and they were not part of any census exercise, reported Hindustan Times
The forms titled “Census Format 2023” with name of respective police station of the area has a blank space where name of the ‘mohalla’ has to be jotted down. Each family has to fill the form with details like house number, name of the family head with cell number, family members, and their relation with family head. There are separate columns for age and occupation, along with two other “lat” and “long” columns.
The residents of Old City said that police officials have been visiting mohallas and handing over forms to the elderly people and mosque management heads to forward them to residents.
“Last month, three policemen visited me and handed over the forms. They want people to fill in the details which are there in ration cards besides phone numbers and Aadhar numbers. A few days back, they called again and wanted the forms submitted as soon as possible. We have no idea why they are seeking such details,” he said.
Another Srinagar resident said the police were dropping such forms in mosques to be handed over to people for submission. “Earlier they asked residents to submit details of tenants which were alright owing to some criminal cases. But this latest form is seeking personal details of everyone and is very disturbing,” he said.
When questioned about the issue in a message, additional director general of police, Vijay Kumar refused to comment saying he “explained it during a recent Iftar dinner and won’t repeat”. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Srinagar, meanwhile, Rakesh Balwal remained unavailable for comments despite multiple attempts.

Such data collection exercises by police are not new in Kashmir. Police had in 2012 issued similar “census” forms, which had elicited harsh reactions from civil society terming it “political and racial profiling”. Police had defended such actions on the pretext of “modern policing”. By 2016, such forms had become more intrusive like residents had to file details like their affiliations to religious sects or ‘maslak’, reported Hindustan Times

[ad_2]
#Police #Distributing #Census #Forms #Seeking #Details #Srinagar
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

May 3, 2023
2,272 water bodies ‘not in use’ in J&K, Ladakh: Census

[ad_1]
Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 24: About 2,272 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are “not in use” due to several reasons including dried up and destroyed beyond repair, Ministry of Jal Shakti census report has revealed.
Ministry of Jal Shakti released the first ever census of Water Bodies in convergence with the 6th Minor Irrigation (MI) Census under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census.”
The census report, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has revealed that there are 9,765 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and among them 7,493 are in use while as 2,272 water bodies are not in use.
The report has revealed that the 1,051 water bodies are not in use as they have dried up, 24 due to construction, 20 siltation, 214 destroyed behind repair, 01 salinity, 01 due to industrial effluents and 961 due to other reasons.
Among not in use water bodies, 16 are in urban areas while rest are in rural areas and among in use water bodies 7431 are in rural areas and 62 are in urban areas.
“The 2,272 not in use water bodies include 2,036 ponds, 29 tanks, 06 lakes, 26 reservoirs, 6 water conservation schemes and 169 others,” it said.
As per census, among 7,493 in use water bodies, 719 are being used for irrigation purposes, 12 industrial, 97 pisciculture, 5,986 for domestic/drinking purposes, 19 recreation, 56 religious, 129 groundwater purpose and 475 for other purposes.

Among in use water bodies, 3220 are ponds, 150 tanks, 31 lakes, 415 reservoirs, 23 water conservation schemes/percolation tanks/check dams and 3654 other water bodies.
As per census, 318 water bodies are under drought prone areas programme, 1144 in Tribal area, 27 flood prone, 73 Desert Development Programme (DDP) and 8,203 other water bodies—(KNO)
[ad_2]
#water #bodies #Ladakh #Census
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

April 24, 2023
23 Percent Of Water Bodies In JK Dried Up Beyond Repair: Census

[ad_1]
SRINAGAR: Ministry of Jal Shakti released the first ever census of Water Bodies in convergence with the 6th Minor Irrigation (MI) Census under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census.”
The census highlighted disparities between rural and urban areas, encroachments and also revealed crucial insights into the country’s water resources. Census also offers a thorough inventory of India’s water resources, including both natural and artificial water bodies including ponds, tanks, lakes and more.
According to the census, 24,24,540 water bodies have been enumerated in the country, of which 97.1% (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas.
According to the maiden census report there are over 24 lakh water bodies across the country, and over 9,700 water bodies in the Union Territory of J&K, of which over 76 per cent are ‘in use’ while over 23 per cent have been categorized as ‘not in use’, defining them as ‘dried up beyond repair’.
As per the census, a total of 9,765 water bodies have been enumerated in J&K, out of which 99.2% (9,687) are in rural areas and the remaining 0.8% (78), are in urban areas, noting that the majority of the water bodies are ponds.
The census further reveals that over 2272 not-in-use water bodies in J&K and Ladakh, including 2026 ponds, 29 tanks, 6 Lakes, 26 reservoirs, 6 water conservation schemes/percolation tanks/ check dams, and 169 others. Further, out of 9765 water bodies, 5016 are public owned, and 4749 are private owned.
As per the census, 7431 water bodies are in use in rural areas, out of which 718 are used for irrigation, 12 for industrial, 97 for pisciculture, 5935 are for domestic/ drinking, 19 are recreation, 49 are for religious, 129 are for groundwater recharge, 472 are others.
As per the major results, 48.6% (4,749) are privately owned water bodies across J&K, whereas the remaining 51.4% (5,016) are under public ownership. By location, 27 water bodies are located in flood-prone areas and 1,144 water bodies are located in tribal areas.

Out of all water bodies, the census noted, 76.7% (7,493) water bodies are ‘in use’ whereas the rest 23.3% (2,272) are not ‘in use,’ “on account of drying up, destroyed beyond repair and other reasons.”
Out of ‘in use’ water bodies, the census highlighted, a major proportion of water bodies are used for domestic/ drinking purposes followed by irrigation purposes.
The census also noted that J&K has reported encroachment in 103 water bodies out of all the enumerated water bodies, of which 95, it stated, are ponds. Out of 9,765 water bodies, the information on the ‘water spread area’ was reported in 9,759 water bodies.
Out of these 9,759 water bodies, the results note, 98.4% (9,602) of the water bodies have a water spread area of fewer than 0.5 hectares, whereas, 1.1% (104) water bodies have a water spread area between 0.5 hectares to 1.0 hectares and the remaining 0.5% (53) water bodies have more than one-hectare water spread area; in terms of storage capacity while 74.1% (7,238) water bodies have storage capacity between 0 to 100 Cubic Meters.

According to the census, 9209 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh have never been repaired. Only 115 water bodies were repaired before 2009. In 2009, 11 water bodies were repaired; 51 in 2010; 20 in 2011; 34 in 2012; 71 in 2013; 38 in 2014; 59 in 2015; 24 in 2016; 54 in 2017; 34 in 2018, and 45 were repaired after 2018.

[ad_2]
#Percent #Water #Bodies #Dried #Repair #Census
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 24, 2023
Caste Census demon haunts Maha BJP ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls

[ad_1]
Mumbai: The clamour for a caste-based Census has once again come to haunt the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, which is treating the sensitive issue with kid-gloves, with the general elections barely a year away.
The Imperial Census, first conducted by the British Government in 1871-72 for the entire population, and later periodically undertaken, has always included general questions based on caste-religions.
However, the first loose Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) was taken up by the British in 1881 — over 140 years ago, followed by a similar one in 1931.

In 2011, India had conducted a SECC but mostly to ascertain the number of people living below poverty line (BPL) and design targeted welfare measures or schemes for that group.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole raised the issue of a Caste-based Census in Dec. 2021, and soon the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) also joined the chorus.
“The decision for a Caste Census was taken unanimously (by Maha Vikas Aghadi), but after that the new government is reluctant to take it up,” said Patole recently.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that the state government has brought the proposal to a standstill “with nothing moving ahead now”, and demanded that it should be immediately revived.
NCP President Sharad Pawar has made a strong plea for Caste Census owing to “strong sentiments linking it with social justice”, to create targeted development plans for various caste groups and help achieve an all-inclusive overall national growth.

Party’s Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said that the government’s reluctance is confusing as with passing time, increasing population and aspirations, even welfare measures and policies need to be modified to suit the current situation.
According to Shiv Sena (UBT) National Spokesperson Kishore Tiwari, the BJP government is worried about a Caste Census ahead of the 2024 elections as it would “reveal a lot and expose them”.
“There are a lot of caste imbalances, those who are less in number are enjoying the maximum fruits of developments, while the huge majority of the deprived at the lower levels of society in all castes-communities, continue to be ignored and their economic status keeps degrading,” said Tiwari.
Tapase feels that a Caste Census will throw up exhaustive, scientific data that can enable policy-makers to formulate special policies, reservations and implementation for each equitable representation to each caste or community, depending on their actual needs.
Presently India is largely relying on the data thrown up in the 1931 Caste Census, but the socio-economic situation has undergone a sea-change in the past 90 years compelling the need to ‘refresh’ the figures and caste components in the 21st century.
Replying to the demands, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month stated that the government will send a team to study the Bihar pattern where a caste-census is being carried out.
Admitting that there is a near-consensus on a Caste-based Census in the state, Fadnavis also cautioned for care as such an exercise could potentially create caste conflicts, and hence the need to analyse the Bihar experience on this count before taking a final decision here.
Urging for a well-researched scientific approach, Fadnavis referred to the 2011 SECC and claimed that the data was not made public owing to several issues, errors and discrepancies, and adopting such wrong statistics could lead to a fresh social crisis as all communities would object.
Stressing the need for a proper Caste Census, Janata Dal (U) MLC Kapil Patil said it would help determine not only the OBC population in the state but also provide data of all communities in Maharashtra.
Tapase said that when the latest authentic data is available, the government can ensure that welfare schemes reach the intended sections and remove the existing glaring socio-economic disparities.
Incidentally, Maharashtra announced in the Budget 2023-2024 that it will set up caste-wise development corporations for Lingayat, Gurav, Vadar and Ramoshi communities in the state, further spurring the demand for a Caste Census.
A couple of years ago the Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes (MSCBC) had given the finishing touches to the empirical data collection format and norms for a proposed SECC, estimated to cost around Rs 435-crore, but as state Opposition leaders rue, nothing has moved ahead.
[ad_2]
#Caste #Census #demon #haunts #Maha #BJP #ahead #Lok #Sabha #polls
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 23, 2023
Eyeing national role, KCR pushes for caste census but not Bihar model

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: While Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been supporting the demand for caste-based census, its government in Telangana may come under pressure from the backward classes (BCs) to conduct a survey in the state on the lines of the exercise being undertaken in Bihar.
Backward classes groups are demanding the K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR)-led government to issue an order to conduct the caste census of BCs in the state as the BJP-led government at the Centre is refusing to undertake the exercise at the national level.
As KCR has changed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) into BRS to expand the party activities across the country, the BC groups feel that by taking an initiative for a caste census in Telangana, can send the right message to BCs across the country.

These groups have even offered to extend help to BRS in other states if it comes out with an order to conduct the BC caste census in Telangana.
BC Sankshema Sangham national president Jajula Srinivas Goud has urged the KCR to take the initiative in Telangana as this would help him win the hearts of BCs in other states. “If a GO (Government Order) is issued for caste census in Telangana, we are ready to enlighten BCs and OBCs in states where BRS wants to contest,” he said.
He believes that by conducting a caste census KCR can build a national image. “He is trying to project the Telangana model before the entire country to expand BRS in other states. The caste census will further consolidate this Telangana model,” he said.
However, BRS has not yet reacted to this demand. Political observers say that the party has taken a stand in support of the caste census but it will tread cautiously on taking any step on its own which may politically boomerang.
The ruling party may skirt the issue in the run-up to Assembly elections scheduled later this year. Some leaders have already mentioned that the power of conducting the census rests with the Centre.

Chairman of Telangana State Commission for Backward Classes, Vakulabarnam Krishna Mohan Rao has demanded that the Centre transfer the subject to the concurrent list. He claimed that the state government is committed to conducting a caste census of BCs but it is for the Centre to facilitate this.
In October 2021, Telangana Assembly passed a resolution seeking caste wise census of the Backward Class to be conducted while holding the general census for 2021.
KCR had told the Assembly that BCs constitute nearly 50 per cent of Telangana’s population. He pointed out that various political parties and State Assemblies in the country had passed resolutions seeking caste census.
While introducing the resolution, the Chief Minister had said: “In view of the upliftment of poorer sections of the society, it was necessary to maintain accurate statistics for taking up various welfare measures for benefitting the poorest of the poor.”
“…Second Telangana Legislative Assembly hereby with a view to ensure that provisions of clause IV of Article 15, clause V of Article 15 and clause VI of Article 16 regarding the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens as also the provisions of clause VI of Article 243 D and clause VI of Article 243 E regarding backward classes of citizens urges the Central government that the caste wise census of backward classes of citizens be conducted while holding the general census for 2021,” reads the resolution.
KCR argues that the caste census, as part of the Census, is necessary to identify socially, economically, and educationally backward communities and increase reservations proportionate to their population.
He slammed the BJP government at the Centre for submitting an affidavit in the Supreme Court, expressing its inability to take up the caste-based census in the country. He found a mismatch between the population and the reservation extended to Scheduled Caste (SCs) and said there was a need to increase the existing reservations for SC communities from the existing 15 per cent owing to a rise in the communities’ population.
He invoked Dr B.R. Ambedkar and said that the Centre must continue with the aspirations of the architect of the Indian Constitution to ensure social justice to the SCs
He pointed out that people belonging to the backward classes and scheduled castes (SCs) are also demanding a caste census. “The SC population was fixed at 15 per cent long back but with authority, I can say that it has now crossed 17 per cent. In some states it even crossed 19 per cent,” he said.
KCR had said that the population of SCs in Telangana was 17 per cent of the total state population, with about 18 lakh Dalit families living across the state.
“But in some districts such as Mancherial, the SC population is 26 per cent. It is 22 per cent in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, 21 per cent in Jangaon, Khammam, Rangareddy, and Vikarabad, and 20 per cent in Karimnagar. Hyderabad has the lowest SC population with about 11 per cent,” he said, quoting the Samagra Kutumba Survey or comprehensive household survey, conducted by the state government in 2014.
The BRS leader has also found “fault” with the Modi government for not holding the census exercise in the country. He pointed out that the process of census began way back in 1871 and it continued uninterrupted till 2011.
He pointed out that even during the two world wars, it didn’t stop. KCR said that it’s only through census does a government know what the situation is in the country. He alleged that the Modi government is not conducting a census because it was afraid of people knowing the facts.
KCR argued that caste census of backward classes would help in evolving appropriate policies and programmes for their welfare.
“The Centre is saying it’s a sensitive issue. Why it’s a sensitive issue. We have a caste system in the country. Why should we be ashamed of it? Are the governments not issuing caste certificates,” he asked.
With the Congress party aggressively taking up the issue of caste census, KCR is also likely to be under pressure to come out with a strategy.
[ad_2]
#Eyeing #national #role #KCR #pushes #caste #census #Bihar #model
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 23, 2023
Ram Rajya possible only through caste census: Akhilesh Yadav

[ad_1]
Lucknow: In a dig at the ruling BJP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said socialism is at the root of the great concept of “Ram Rajya” and it is possible only through a caste census.
Yadav’s statement comes days after several opposition parties, including the Congress and the JD(U), demanded a caste census and sought reservation according to the population of SC, ST and OBC communities.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge even wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an updated caste census. He said meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes are incomplete without such data. Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar supported the demand by the Congress party.

In a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said, “Socialism is the root of the great concept of Ram Rajya. Socialism implements in a true manner on the ground principles like treating everyone equal without discrimination, embracing (one another) with love, giving equal opportunity to everyone and social security.”
“Ram Rajya is possible only through caste census, which will deliver true social justice,” he added.
The demand for a caste census is likely to test BJP’s outreach to the backward classes.
While the Bihar unit of the BJP had supported a resolution for a caste census in the state, the party’s central leadership is yet to respond to the demand for it.

[ad_2]
#Ram #Rajya #caste #census #Akhilesh #Yadav
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 23, 2023
Bihar: Second phase of caste-based census begins, to continue till May 15

[ad_1]
Patna: The second phase of the caste-based census has started in the State and will continue till May 15, said Dr Chandrashekhar Singh, DM, Patna.
The decision of a caste census was taken by the Bihar cabinet on June 2, last year, months after the Centre ruled out conducting such an exercise nationally.
The first phase of the caste-based census in Bihar began on January 7 and ended on January 21.

Informing about the involvement of people in the second phase of the caste-based census, DM Singh said, “All the families are sharing information positively”.
The second phase of the survey will involve gathering data on people from all castes, sub-castes, and socioeconomic conditions backgrounds.
The survey, in its second phase, would cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores across 2.58 crore households in 38 districts, further spread over 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies. The survey would be completed by May 31, this year.
A caste-based headcount will be conducted across all 38 districts in two stages.

[ad_2]
#Bihar #phase #castebased #census #begins #continue
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 20, 2023
Is Caste census oppn’s ‘Brahmastra’ against BJP’s Hindutva in 2024?

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The opposition parties are yet to firm up an alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but their unanimous demands for a caste census and the removal of the reservation cap could be a binding factor and hand them what a section of leaders feels the “Brahmastra” to counter the BJP and its Hindutva plank.
The issues of caste census and reservation not only put all opposition parties on the same page but leaders feel it could also help them win back many backward classes who have veered towards the BJP in the recent past.
Tejaswi Yadav in Bihar
At a DMK-convened conference, RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav summed it up for opposition parties when he had said that the best way to beat the BJP’s politics of “polarisation” was through social justice-based politics.

Rahul Gandhi in Kolar
This formula has been adopted by the Congress with much enthusiasm with Rahul Gandhi making an aggressive pitch for a caste-based census and the removal of 50 per cent cap on reservation in his recent speech in Karnataka’s Kolar, in a bid to turn the tables on the BJP that had been gunning for him over his 2019 “Modi surname” remarks alleging that he insulted OBCs.
The BJP has hit back at Gandhi for his remarks, alleging that he is being “disingenuous” with his claim on the issue of social justice when the erstwhile Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka did nothing to address long-pending demands of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The Opposition has spoken with unanimity on general issues such as inflation and rising employment but lacked cohesiveness on specific issues like the Adani matter.
However, with the issues of caste-based census and removal of reservation cap, opposition parties have found an arrow with which they can hit multiple targets at one go — it forges instant unity in the opposition ranks, puts the BJP on the back foot as it is yet to spell out its stance on them categorically, and prepares a counter for the Hindutva push expected closer to the polls.
With Congress aggressively taking up the issue, it is likely to endear the party to regional outfits which have till now been circumspect of the grand old party fearing that it may play the “big brother” by superseding their agenda with issues of its own.

Asked about the Congress’ strong pitch, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI, “The demand for a caste-based census was articulated forcefully by many civil society groups to Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress is following through on that demand.”
A socio-economic caste census was conducted by the end of 2012 covering some 25 crore households but the data could not be published for various reasons, he pointed out.
AAP joins the voice
An example of how the issue of caste-based census could be the glue for the Opposition unity is how even the Aam Aadmi Party which does not see eye-to-eye with the Congress on most issues has joined the caste-based census chorus.
The JD(U) and the RJD, which are part of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance in Bihar, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have also been vociferously demanding caste-based census for a long time.
The caste census and the removal of the cap on reservation are also likely to put the BJP in a quandary and test its own outreach to the backward classes.
Bihar BJP supports caste census, central BJP yet to respond
The BJP unit in Bihar had supported a resolution at an all-party meeting convened by Nitish Kumar and later a unanimous resolution was passed in the Bihar Assembly on caste census. However, the BJP’s central leadership is yet to respond to the demand for a socio-economic and caste census.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said the “doublespeak” of the BJP is clear from its “ambivalent position” on the Opposition demand for publishing the figures of the caste-based census of 2011.
“It (BJP) seeks the votes of the forward classes while it engages in doublespeak on backward classes,” he alleged.
Sibal added that just being on the same page on this issue was not enough and that the Opposition unity requires much more than this.
RJD MP Manoj Jha, another prominent voice in the Opposition ranks, also underlined the importance of the caste-based census issue.
“We have been demanding caste-based census, it started in 2010-11 when Lalu ji, Sharad ji and Mulayam ji raised this question and the then UPA government agreed to it. Subsequently, 2014 heralded (Narendra) Modi ji’s victory and myself and other MPs raised the question as to what happened to the data and we were told that the data got corrupted. Don’t know whether the corruption was of the data or somewhere else,” Jha told PTI.
“The Kolar speech of Rahul ji provided a further impetus to the demand made by several state governments and leaders from diverse political parties. It is important to see that it is not a political issue, it involves deepening of democracy, who would not want deepening of democracy, it involves psychological, social and political empowerment of communities, it involves ensuring of representation in accordance with their population,” the RJD leader said.
Having said that, it is important to collectively raise this issue and tell the prime minister and his party that politics cannot be rhetorical, one has to come down to the ground and look at what are the critical issues, he said.
“The critical issue is that in the governance structure and bureaucracy, the representation of SCs, STs and OBCs is negligible. Can a democracy live with such anomalies that is our question and that is how we will take it up forward,” he asserted.
Political commentator Sanjay Jha, who was once a spokesperson for the Congress party, alleged that India has been devastated by a double whammy — unemployment crisis and extreme inequality — under the current government.
“The biggest sufferers are those from underprivileged communities and the backward classes. No amount or number of social welfare programmes being propagated by the BJP can neutralize the deprivation and the economic destitution of millions of Indians. Therefore the Opposition is completely justified in focusing on social justice as its key political message,” he told PTI.
“That’s why a nervous BJP is prevaricating on the caste census, as at core, it remains an upper caste party. Further, it is a party of the rich, by the rich, for the rich,” he claimed.
A leader on condition of anonymity said that with the BJP likely to use its Hindutva plank to consolidate its vote bank, the demands for a caste-based census and the removal of the reservation cap could be the Opposition’s “Brahmastra” ahead of the 2024 elections.
[ad_2]
#Caste #census #oppns #Brahmastra #BJPs #Hindutva
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Congress president Kharge writes to PM Modi demanding caste census

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded an up-to-date caste census.
In his letter, Kharge said in the absence of an updated caste census, a reliable data base so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete.
“I am writing to you to once again place on record the demand of the Indian National Congress for an up-to-date Caste Census. My colleagues and I have raised this demand earlier in both House of Parliament on a number of occasions as have leaders of many other Opposition parties,” the Congress chief said in his letter.

“You are aware that for the first time the UPA Government conducted a Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) during 2011-12 covering some 25 crore households. For a number of reasons, however, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in May 2014,” he said.
“In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable data base so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete. This Census is the responsibility of the Union Government,” Kharge said.
In the letter dated April 16, he also pointed out that the regular decennial census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not yet been conducted.
“We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made its integral part,” Kharge said.
Sharing Kharge’s letter to the prime minister, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted “Jitni aabadi, utna haq! Congress President @kharge -ji has written to PM demanding that the decennial Census that should have been conducted in 2021 be done right-away, and a Caste Census be made its integral part. This will put social justice & empowerment on a firmer footing”.

Addressing a rally in Katnataka’s Kolar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday had also dared Prime Minister Modi to release the 2011 caste-based census data in public domain and also demanded the 50 per cent cap on reservation be removed.
“UPA in 2011 did the caste-based census. It has the data of all the castes. Mr Prime Minister, you talk of OBCs. Make that data public. Let the nation know how many OBCs, Dalits and tribals are there in the country,” Gandhi had said at the Congress’ ‘Jai Bharat’ election rally in Kolar in the run-up to the May 10 Karnataka polls.
[ad_2]
#Congress #president #Kharge #writes #Modi #demanding #caste #census
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
3032 water bodies in Telangana encroached upon: Irrigation Census
[ad_1]
Hyderabad: Under the Union government’s ‘Irrigation Census’ the ministry of Jal Shakti launched the first census of water bodies which documents the size, condition, status of encroachments, use, storage capacity, status of filling up of storage etc., nationwide.
24,24,540 water bodies have been enumerated in the country, out of which 97.1% (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas.
According to the report, the total number of water bodies in Telangana is 64,056 out of which 98.5% are in rural areas and only 1.5% (992) are in urban areas.

In comparison to the national average, the number of water bodies in urban Telangana is observed to be substantially lower.
5 leading states with maximum number of water bodies:
- Ponds – West Bengal
- Tanks – Andhra Pradesh
- Lakes – Tamil Nadu
- Reservoirs – West Bengal
- Water Conservation Schemes/Check Dams – Maharashtra
Telangana has the fourth highest number of ‘Water Conservation Schemes/Check Dams’ in the country.
Encroachments:
The census found that 1.6% of all the water bodies in the country are the victim of encroachment. Above 95% these encroachments are being done in the urban areas. In Telangana, the number of water bodies that have been encroached are 3032 which is about 4.3% of the total.
In-use and not in-use water bodies:
According to the census, 3,94,500 water bodies, amounting to 16.3% of total in the country, are not in use on account of drying up, construction, siltation, destruction beyond repair, salinity and other reasons.
In case of Telangana, this number is slightly higher than the national average again. Out of 64,056 water bodies, 80.8% (51,733) water bodies are in use whereas rest 19.2% (12,323) are not in use for similar reasons, states the report.

Out of the ‘in use’ water bodies, the majority of them are used for irrigation followed by groundwater recharge.
Across the country, 90.1% of the ‘in use’ water bodies are observed to be fulfilling requirements of upto 100 people only. Of all the water bodies in-use only 0.8% are fulfilling the requirements for more than 5 cities, towns or villages.
Ownership:
Another interesting data-point is the ownership of water bodies. We see that across the country more than half are owned by private entities.
55.2% (13,38,735) of water bodies across India are owned by private entities whereas 44.8% (10,85,805) of water bodies are in the domain of public ownership.
About 80.5% of the water bodies in the state are under public ownership while the rest are privately owned.
Man-made v/s Natural
Amongst all the 24,24,540 water bodies in India, 78% (18,90,463) water bodies are man-made and the remaining 22% (5,34,077) are natural water bodies.
In urban Telangana, 603 water bodies are man-made and 389 are naturally occurring.
The percentage distribution of natural and manmade water bodies in rural-urban sector is given in the bar charts given below:
Infographic: 1st Census of water bodies by the Government of India
[ad_2]
#water #bodies #Telangana #encroached #Irrigation #Census
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
April 11, 2023