The first phase of the caste-based survey in Bihar started on Saturday. According to reports, the caste-based survey will be conducted in all 38 districts in two phases.
The first phase is set to be over by January 21. While the second phase of the survey is likely to be held in April. The decision to a caste census was taken by the Bihar cabinet on June 2 last year.
The census will be conducted on an estimated population of 12.70 crores in around 2.58 households in 38 districts. It will cover 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies.
In Bihar politics, the caste-based count has been a major issue. Earlier, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had agreed to conduct the exercise at the national level in 2010, but the data collected during the census were never processed.
The whole survey is set to be completed by May this year.
"The caste-based headcount will be beneficial for all... It will enable the government to work for the development of various sections of society, including those who are deprived. After completion of the enumeration exercise..., the final report will be sent to Centre also," Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had said while interacting with reporters on Friday, PTI reported.
"Data will be collected digitally through a mobile application as part of the survey, from the panchayat to the district level. The app will have questions about place, caste, the number of people in a family, their profession, and annual income. Census workers include teachers, Anganwadi, MGNREGA or Jeevika workers", Chandrashekhar Singh, Patna District Magistrate was quoted by PTI.
