Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
Credit: PTI File Photo
In an exercise that will amplify the call for a nationwide caste census, the Bihar government on Monday released findings of the caste survey that put OBCs and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) at a whopping 63.13 per cent of the state's population of 13.07 crore and the upper castes at 15.52 per cent.
Among the backward classes, EBCs accounted for more than one-third of the population or 36.01 per cent (4.70 crore) while the rest of the OBCs counted 27.12 per cent (3.54 crore). The Scheduled Castes or Dalits were pegged at 19.65 per cent (2.56 crore) while the Scheduled Tribes accounted for 1.68 per cent (21.99 lakh). Finally, the general category accounted for 2.02 crore people, the caste survey findings showed.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chose Gandhi Jayanti—October 2—to release the statistics, whose data collection and release faced numerous legal hurdles, in what is seen as an act to send a political message to his opponents.
The numbers are likely to raise the pitch for increasing reservation for the OBCs and other under-privileged sections.
Among the castes, the Yadavs counted the highest with 14.26 per cent or 1.86 crore. Yadavs are OBCs and the current Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav belongs to this community. Kurmis, another OBC community to which Nitish belongs to, was counted at 37.22 lakh or 2.87 per cent of the population, while Kushwahas account for 4.21 per cent or 55.05 lakh.
Brahmins accounted for 3.65 per cent or 47.81 lakh, while another upper caste community, the Rajputs, were pegged at 45.10 lakh or 3.45 per cent. Bhumihars, a land-owning upper caste to which Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh belongs to, has been pegged at 2.86 per cent or 37.5 lakh. Kayasthas, who basically belong to the community of accountants, were found to account for 0.6 per cent of the population or 7.85 lakh.
The survey also provided religion-wise data -- Hindus dominated the population with 81.99 per cent (10.71 crore) followed by Muslims with 17.7 per cent (2.31 crore), Buddhists with 0.08 per cent (1.11 lakh). Christians stood at 75,238 (0.05 per cent), Sikhs at 14,753 (0.01 per cent) and Jains at 12,523 (0.009 per cent). There were 1.66 lakh people who followed other religions while 2,146 said they do not have any religion.
Nitish underlined that the caste survey details were published on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who fought against casteism, while insisting that the proposal for such an enumeration was passed with the consent of all the nine parties, including the BJP, in the Bihar Assembly.
"...the state government has conducted a caste based census from its own resources. Caste based census not only revealed the castes but also gave information about the economic condition of everyone. On this basis, further action will be taken for the development and upliftment of all sections. Soon a meeting of the same nine parties of Bihar Assembly will be called regarding the caste based census conducted in Bihar and they will be informed about the results of the caste based census," he said.
Lalu Prasad, the RJD patriarch and Nitish's ally, said the exercise will set the tone for “a nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when we form the next government at the Centre”, highlighting the united Opposition I.N.D.I.A's poll pitch for the 2024 elections. Congress too joined the chorus with its top leader Rahul emphasising the party's slogan 'representation according to population'.
The exercise had earlier run into trouble with the Patna High Court staying the caste survey before declaring it valid and legal. The Supreme Court also did not find any merit in stopping the exercise.
A brief look at the Bihar caste survey numbers:
Population: 13,07,25,310
OBC: 3.54 crore -- 27.12%
EBC: 4.70 crore -- 36.01%
SC: 2.56 crore-- 19.65%
ST: 21.99 lakh -- 1,68%
Gen: 2.02 crore -- 15.52%
Castes—
Yadavs: 1.86 crore -- 14.26%
Kurmis: 37.22 lakh-- 2.87%
Kushwahas: 55.05 lakh – 4.21%
Brahmins: 47.81 lakh -- 3.65%
Rajputs: 45.10 lakh – 3.45%
Bhumihars: 37.5 lakh -- 2.86%
Kayasthas: 7.85 lakh -- 0.60%
Religion/Count—
Hindu: 10.71 crore -- 81.99%
Islam: 2.31 crore -- 17.70%
Christians: 75238 -- 0.05%
Sikh: 14753 -- 0.01%
Buddhist: 1.11 lakh -- 0.08%
Jain: 12523 -- 0.009%
Others: 1.66 lakh-- 0.12%
No Religion: 2146 -- 0.001%