Odisha Assembly passes resolution on caste-based census & 50% reservation cap

Bhubaneswar: A resolution on caste-basted census and 50 percent reservation ceiling was passed on concluding day of Monsoon session in Odisha Assembly today.

The resolution was tabled by ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jagannath Saraka in the House.

The resolution will be sent to the State Commission for Backward Classes.

With passing of the resolution, the Monsoon session of State Assembly concluded following din by opposition members over various issues including mining scam and suicidal death of a youth in front of Odisha Assembly.

It is pertinent to mention here that the demand for caste-based census is gaining momentum in the States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Many political parties such as RJD, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party are the most vocal in support of the caste-based census.

After Parliament passed the 127th Constitution Amendment Bill in August this year, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha pitched for conducting caste-based census focusing on crucial panchayat polls in the State.

The BJD stated that the caste-based census will help in collecting information on people belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) who have been away from the purview of development.

Also read: Odisha’s ruling BJD demands for caste-based census