Govt approve Caste Based, BPL Census

Indian government approved a census to identify households living below the poverty line, and gather data on castes and religions. The decision was taken in a federal cabinet meeting in New Delhi. India's Information and Broadcasting Minister says it’s the first time the census will be carried out in urban areas. “The Below Poverty Line Census would pave the way to identify the households living below the poverty line in both rural and urban areas of the country.” The census is expected to be completed by December 2011. The results will be used for planning programs for India’s most vulnerable. “The two ministries would use the data for not only the 12th Five year plan, but in their own programming, identifying different criteria and programs to be undertaken for the most vulnerable, either on the basis of habitat, or employment, or on social considerations.” The census will be jointly conducted by India’s Ministries of Rural Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, and the Registrar General of India.