Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming the Union Government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming national census, while urging extensive consultations with States to ensure the sensitive exercise is conducted carefully and in the spirit of cooperative federalism.

In his letter, Stalin said the inclusion of caste details has “far-reaching implications for social justice, equitable policymaking, and the federal structure of our nation.” He noted that Tamil Nadu has long advocated a comprehensive caste-based census to generate reliable data for addressing historical inequalities and implementing targeted welfare measures.

“At the outset, I welcome the inclusion of caste details in the census, as it aligns with the long-standing demand of the Government of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin wrote, adding that the decision “vindicates our consistent advocacy for evidence-based social justice.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of this demand, with the State Legislative Assembly having passed resolutions urging the Centre to conduct caste enumeration alongside the decadal population census.

However, Stalin cautioned that caste enumeration is an “exceedingly sensitive matter” involving complex social dynamics and regional variations. He warned that any lack of precision in framing questions, categories, sub-categories, or methodology could lead to inaccuracies, disputes, or heightened social tensions.

Emphasising the federal dimension, Stalin said that while the Census is a Union subject, its outcomes have significant implications for State-level policies related to education, reservations, and welfare schemes. He therefore called for consultations with all States and Union Territories before finalising the guidelines and questionnaire.

Stalin urged the Prime Minister to constitute a consultative mechanism involving Chief Ministers and State representatives, and to ensure due diligence, including pilot testing where necessary, to safeguard the sensitivity and reliability of the exercise.

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Expressing confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership, he said the initiative should be used as a “historic opportunity” to strengthen equality, inclusivity, and cooperative federalism.