Congress leader Sonia Gandhi expressed her concerns on Monday about the ongoing delay in the decennial census, which has now been postponed by over four years. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, she highlighted how the delay has resulted in outdated data, leading to the exclusion of millions from the National Food Security Act (NFSA). According to Gandhi, approximately 140 million people are being deprived of food security benefits due to the census data, which still relies on the 2011 figures despite the country’s growing population.
Gandhi pointed out that the census, which was initially scheduled for 2021, is crucial for updating beneficiary quotas, among other key surveys and data sets. The census is also essential for determining state-wise representation in Parliament and implementing women’s reservation in legislatures. With the law for one-third women’s reservation in legislatures passed in 2023, the census is needed for the delimitation process to take effect.
For the first time in India’s history, the decennial census has faced such a long delay, with no clarity on when it will be conducted. Gandhi urged the government to act swiftly and prioritize the census completion to ensure that eligible individuals can access their rightful benefits under the NFSA, which she emphasized is a fundamental right, not a privilege. The NFSA, introduced in 2013, ensures subsidized food for vulnerable populations, and its effectiveness was proven during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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