OBCs not to be counted in Census’ second phase

In spite of the central government mentioning that the other backward castes (OBC) should be counted as a separate category in the Census, officials said that they have not received any directives. The second phase, which will take off on February 9, will have different categories for the third gender, while the commercial sex workers will be put in the category ‘others’ unlike the traditional practice of counting them as beggars.

The officials from the census operations have clarified that they have received no directions about the counting of the OBCs as independent category. However, Sameer Bhujbal, MP, who has been batting for the separate category of the OBC in the census, has claimed that the caste-wise census will be undertaken between July and September 2011. “I have been told by registrar general of the union home department that the proforma of the caste based census is being finalised and it will be undertaken in the later phase,” he said.

All the primary schools run by the BMC in Mumbai will remain shut during the second phase. “The primary teachers from the aided schools are also part of the drive. There would be no need to shut the schools if the teachers work for four additional hours. Right To Education Act or the Central Act nowhere demand for their exclusion,” said Ranjit Singh Deol, director of census operations, Maharashtra.