Suryaa Now Telangana Desk: State Transport, BC Welfare to include a separate column for SCs, STs as well as OBCs in the census to be conducted across the country. State Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has demanded the central government to include a separate column for SCs, STs as well as OBCs in the nationwide census. Member of Rajya Sabha and National President of BC Welfare Association R. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar met with Krishnaiah and discussed the issue. Ponnam Prabhakar said that even though the central government had announced caste enumeration in the past, the details of the 40 questions revealed on August 14 included only the sections SC, ST and others and there was no separate column for OBCs. He said that if the caste-wise census is not collected, it will not be clear what the actual population of BC is.
Accurate statistics are required for the increase of reservations. The minister explained that in cases where reservations are sought to be increased beyond 50 percent, the courts ask for accurate caste-wise population statistics (empirical data). Ponnam Prabhakar said that if the OBC column is included in the census, it will provide clear information on the population of BCs, and based on those statistics, appropriate representation of BCs in the legislatures, increase in reservation, allocation of funds in the budget and implementation of reservation in local bodies will be facilitated. Ponnam Prabhakar should request together with Amit Shah that in the context of preparations for conducting the census after 2011, Ponnam Prabhakar should put pressure on the central government to include OBCs in the caste census. Asked. He reminded that the Telangana Legislative Assembly has already passed a unanimous resolution to include the caste census in the census.
In view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah coming to Telangana soon, BC MLAs, MPs and representatives of BC unions from all political parties in the state should be brought together. Krishnaiah was suggested by the minister. He asked Amit Shah to submit a petition together with the sole demand to include the OBC column in the census. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar clarified that accurate population statistics are crucial to provide social justice to the BCs and to provide opportunities and funds according to their population ratio. A. Ravinder Surya Telangana Bureau Spokesperson