New Delhi, May 29 (H.S.). Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today described the central government's decision to conduct a caste-based census as historic. He stated that this will ensure social justice. He also mentioned that caste-based data is not divisive, but can become tools for integration.

The Vice President addressed probationary officers of the Indian Statistical Service in New Delhi today. He called the decision for a caste census transformative and fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

He said, “Caste-based data, if collected thoughtfully, is not divisive in any way; rather, it can become a tool for integration. Some people are debating this, but we are a mature society. How can collecting information be a problem? It is like getting an MRI of your body – only then do you gain information about yourself. Through this process, we can convert abstract concepts like equality enshrined in the Constitution into measurable and accountable policy outcomes.”

The Vice President stated that statistics is not just numbers. Statistics is a medium for identifying patterns and insights toward policy understanding. During this time, the Vice President emphasized the need to convert data into policies. Dhankhar highlighted the importance of 'updated and accurate' data in governance. He said, “Formulating policy without solid data is like performing surgery in the dark.” He believes that every data point represents a human story. The Vice President praised India's linguistic diversity. He stated that our languages are our strength and cannot be a cause of division.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar