Close on the heels of Bihar releasing the caste data, the Congress government in Rajasthan on Saturday ordered a similar caste-based survey to find out the socio-economic status of different sections of society and formulate targeted welfare schemes for them. The survey will be conducted with the State government’s own resources.
As the Social Justice and Empowerment Department issued a notification for the exercise after the State Cabinet’s nod, the survey will continue even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct for the upcoming Assembly election. The release of data may be subject to the approval by the Election Commission, official sources said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that though the Census could only be conducted by the Centre, the State government was within its rights to take up the survey of families in which their economic condition would also be revealed. “It is a major decision to which our party is committed. We will take it forward,” he said.
