Actor-politician Vijay demands caste-based census
Actor-politician Vijay expressed growing concern over the delay in conducting a caste-based population census in India, emphasising that the demand for caste-based social justice was intensifying.
In a post on social media platform X, he highlighted the neglect of marginalised communities, pointing to the repeated calls for a caste census that have gone unaddressed.
“The failure to conduct a caste-based population census despite repeated requests highlights the neglect of marginalised communities,” Vijay stated, underlining the urgency of addressing this issue. He noted that the 2021 national population census had not yet been conducted, calling the delay “unacceptable”.
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has been a strong advocate for a caste-based census. He insists that it is essential, drawing attention to the first caste census conducted in independent India in Bihar. The Bihar caste census, which provided crucial socio-economic insights, clearly showed that marginalised communities need to be counted for equitable development.
Despite the clear need, the Union government has continuously refused to conduct a caste census, citing it as a “policy decision”. However, the Bihar state government took matters into its own hands, independently carrying out the caste census and setting an example for other states. Following the successful survey, the data has been integrated into policy decisions and legislation in Bihar, reinforcing the importance of such data for creating social justice policies.
While some states have made positive strides toward conducting caste surveys, others remain hesitant or slow to act. Vijay raised a key question: “Why is the Tamil Nadu government still hesitating to conduct a caste census?” This remains an unanswered query, as the debate over social justice and equality continues. According to him, caste census data is indispensable for ensuring equitable development and safeguarding the rights of marginalised groups.