In Vijayawada, the Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to initiate a caste census today. The primary aim of this census is to ensure the welfare of individuals belonging to SCs, STs, BCs, Minorities, and economically disadvantaged individuals from upper castes. BC Welfare Minister Venugopala Krishna informed the media in Kakinada on Tuesday that the caste census will initially be conducted as a pilot project in five village/ward secretariat limits. "The survey will be expanded to cover the entire state after making necessary modifications based on the feedback received from the pilot project." Senior IAS officers from departments such as planning, BC, SC, minority, and social welfare will oversee the caste census exercise. Joint collectors, serving as the nodal officers in the exercise, will accept suggestions from intellectuals, representatives of caste groups, and others on November 15 and November 16 at district headquarters across the state. He mentioned that a team of officials had been dispatched to Bihar to study the caste census there and submit a report. "We will be organizing regional meetings at five locations in the state including Raja Mahendravaram and Kurnool on November 17, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on November 20, and in Tirupati on November 24."
The minister expressed that the caste census will aid in providing welfare to all the targeted communities and will particularly benefit nearly 139 BC castes.
