Hezamara, Tripura: Independent India's first census to determine the caste make up of the country's 1.21 billion people was launched on Wednesday.
The census started in the remote village of Hezamara, 45km north of Tripura capital Agartala.
"In the general census 2011 (February 9-28), people belonging to the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes have been counted. In the caste census, there would be four categories — Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, others and no caste," Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India C. Chandramauli told IANS.
The census is to be completed by December.
The caste census would be conducted simultaneously with the socio-economic survey to determine the number of people living below the poverty line (BPL). According to the officials, homeless people, beggars and other groups would get the highest priority to be included in the BPL lists.
Households headed by women with no adult male aged 16 to 59, tribals and Scheduled Castes people, and households with no literate adult over 25 years of age would also be included in the list.
Not included
Families who own a car or two-wheeled vehicle, a concrete house or a house with three or more rooms or a fixed phone, a fishing boat or agricultural equipment, pay professional or income tax, have a member in government service, earn above Rs10,000 per month or have Kisan Credit Cards with Rs50,000 and above would not be included in the BPL list.
"The caste survey would be conducted by the union rural and urban development ministries in association with the state governments across the country. Each state has to complete the caste census in a period of 40 days," Chandramauli said.
The last such caste census was done in 1931, before India' independence.
The census started in the remote village of Hezamara, 45km north of Tripura capital Agartala.
"In the general census 2011 (February 9-28), people belonging to the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes have been counted. In the caste census, there would be four categories — Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, others and no caste," Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India C. Chandramauli told IANS.
The census is to be completed by December.
The caste census would be conducted simultaneously with the socio-economic survey to determine the number of people living below the poverty line (BPL). According to the officials, homeless people, beggars and other groups would get the highest priority to be included in the BPL lists.
Households headed by women with no adult male aged 16 to 59, tribals and Scheduled Castes people, and households with no literate adult over 25 years of age would also be included in the list.
Not included
Families who own a car or two-wheeled vehicle, a concrete house or a house with three or more rooms or a fixed phone, a fishing boat or agricultural equipment, pay professional or income tax, have a member in government service, earn above Rs10,000 per month or have Kisan Credit Cards with Rs50,000 and above would not be included in the BPL list.
"The caste survey would be conducted by the union rural and urban development ministries in association with the state governments across the country. Each state has to complete the caste census in a period of 40 days," Chandramauli said.
The last such caste census was done in 1931, before India' independence.
