Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss has thanked the Central government for deciding to conduct a caste-wise census.
In a statement here on Thursday, he pointed out that it was in 1931 that the last caste-wise census was carried out. No government, thereafter, was prepared to conduct it.
The PMK initiated several measures years to get it done. Apart from moving the High Court and also the Supreme Court, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, when he was Union Health Minister, secured the support of more than 200 MPs and met former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to press the demand.
“Considered in this backdrop, the decision of the Central government is a very great victory for the PMK's struggle”, Dr. Ramadoss said.
However, he opposed the procedure of allowing people to mention their caste, “only if they wish to.”
As this census was to identify the number of people in each caste and to formulate appropriate schemes to benefit them, “the government should make it mandatory that all people should declare their caste.”
