Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Cong president Kharge guarantees comprehensive social, economic and caste census

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday promised to conduct a comprehensive social, economic and caste census and pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections today.

The promises are part of another five guarantees, each for 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay' announced by the party on Saturday.

Listing out guarantees under 'Hissedari Nyay', Kharge said the party will hold a nationwide census representing all castes and communities and their social and economic status.

"The Congress Party guarantees a comprehensive social, economic and caste census. Through this, the population, socio-economic condition of all castes and communities, their share in national wealth and their representation in institutions related to governance will be surveyed," Kharge said
Kharge said the policy will bring in a revolutionary change in the country.

"The Congress also guarantees that it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservation for SC, ST and OBC...50 per cent may go to 60, 65. Like Tamil Nadu, what they did, we want to do," Kharge added.

Speaking about 'Right to Jal-Jangal-Jameen' (Legal right to water, forest and land), he said the Congress guarantees protection of tribal forest rights.

All pending Forest Rights Act claims will be resolved within one year and a transparent process will be put in place to review rejected claims within 6 months, Kharge said.

He also said that the Congress guarantees to revive and implement by law the special component plan of SCs and STs, a step already been taken by some Congress-ruled states.

Kharge further said the Congress will increase the MSP (minimum support price) guarantee for minor forest produce, Kharge said, under "Apni Dharti, Apna Raaj" (Our Land, Our Government). He also affirmed that Congress is all for providing self-governance to tribal brothers and sisters and look after protection of their cultural rights.

The Congress is committed to notifying as Scheduled Areas all those settlements where tribals are the largest social group, the party said.
Throughout the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', led by party leader Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has announced 15 guarantees under 'Kisan Nyay', 'Yuva Nyay', and 'Mahila Nyay', he added.

(with PTI inputs)