Page 14 - The Indian EYE 080522

OP-ED AUGUST 05, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

Missing census, angry folks

and falling currency

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

iven the unquestionable im-
portance of this decadal ex-
Gercise, its postponement for
reasons that are not quite convincing
is triggering speculation. Some of
that speculation has been addressed
by GoI recently. For example, census
data won’t be used to create a Na-
tional Register of Citizens (NRC) as
the statutory law governing census
operations restricts it to the use of
aggregated data. That leaves two oth-
er suggestions that have gained trac-
tion. An innovation that is to feature
in Census 2021 is self-enumeration.
While details are not in the public
domain, there have been suggestions
that Census 2021 provides an oppor-
tunity to get an accurate picture of the
pandemic-induced mortality.
Perhaps the most contentious
suggestion is the one raised by many
political parties on using Census 2021
to enumerate population based on
castes. Post-Independence, caste enu-
meration for the general population
ended. It should stay that way. The BJP supporters hold placards during a protest against the Canada-based filmmaker Leena mekmalai and TMC leader Mahua Moitra
decadal census is the most important at Kali Temple in New Delhi recently (ANI Photo)
data collection exercise in India and
forms the basis for state interven- iments of the Indian army. If chickens worked out to Rs 116,566 crore. At The May 2014 exchange rate meant
tions in multiple areas. Census data and goats can be cut for the dining ta- the current exchange rate of 80.03 a an outgo of Rs 30,703 crore. Parents
is a public good that also serves as a ble, why not for the altar? USD, Indians are being forced to part shall have to part with Rs 41,338 crore
springboard for research that feeds Anthropologists should be able to with as much as Rs 156,945 crore, an at the prevailing rate. This means that
back into policy intervention. Given explain why alcohol has been a tradi- additional burden of 34.64%. Those each student shall have to shell out
its criticality, field work on Census tional part of these forms of worship. travelling abroad had to shell out a 34.64% more than the planned expen-
2021 should not be put off any longer. Intoxicants were probably an intrinsic whopping Rs 55,294 crore compared diture. Since parents would not jeop-
part of the earliest fertility rites and to Rs 41,067 crore if the exchange rate ardize the education and the career
-- Editorial, The Times of India
the connection seems to have car- was maintained at the May 2014 level. prospects of their children, they will
Law and Offence ried on into the Shakteya system. Af- One could argue that forex de- have to bear this humongous burden.
ter all, the Devi is the provider of all posit, immovable property, financial Incidentally, Indians account for over
or all the legislatively-imposed the bounty in the world and there is investments, gifts, donations, and 5% of the total number of students
bans of a century or more, an- a need to exalt and celebrate her fe- international travel are luxuries asso- who leave their countries to study
Fimal sacrifices are still under- cundity. Mood elevation by using the ciated with the rich who can afford abroad. A reply to a query in the Ra-
taken in many parts of the country. products of that bounty is one way of such losses. This may, however, not jya Sabha this month stated that the
In some temples, vegetables and co- doing so. hold for people who have to make number of outbound students from
conut milk are used as symbolic sub- --Kesava Menon, The Indian Express outward remittances to support rela- India had increased from 7.35 lakh in
stitutes. In other places, the blood tives, meet the cost of medical treat- 2019 to 11.33 lakh in 2021.
rituals are conducted on sites close The Sliding Rupee ment or finance foreign education. --Furqan Qamar,
to but outside the perimeter of the The outgo of such people is now Rs The Telegraph (India)
temple. There might even be a few itizens continue to suffer and 68,069 crore. If the rupee had been
shrines which form blind spots for suffer severely. Had the ex- stabilized at the 2014 level, they could Every week, we look at what the top
the civil authorities, where the ritual Cchange rate been maintained have done so with Rs 50,556 crore. commentators in the Indian media are
is performed openly. Why? The bali, at the May 2014 level, the rupee Outward remittances for studies talking about and bring to you a slice
especially during Dussehra, is an inte- equivalent of outward remittances abroad alone were USD 5,165.33 mil- of their opinions and comments
gral part of the traditions of most reg- under LRS in 2021-22 would have lion during the fiscal year of 2021-22.

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