Opposition MPs seek assurance over Census, delimitation by 2029

Lok Sabha debates ST representation in Goa Assembly Bill amid concerns over delayed 2021 Census and delimitation process.

As discussion continued in Lok Sabha on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) over the Bill to add Scheduled Tribes (ST) representation in the Goa Assembly, several Opposition MPs stressed the need to conduct the nationwide 2021 Census, which has been delayed for the first time ever, with some even doubting the Centre’s ability to conduct timely delimitation as there are “no signs” of Census beginning. 

Lok Sabha was discussing the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, which was introduced by the Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in August this year.  

It is meant to empower the Census Commissioner to “ascertain or estimate” the population of STs in Goa and subsequently notify them. Further, it enables the Election Commission (EC) to readjust the seats in the Goa Assembly and reserve seats for STs accordingly. 

According to the Bill, the population of the ST had increased considerably in Goa as per the 2011 Census compared to the figures from the 2001 Census. 

While the 2001 Census recorded 566 ST people in Goa, the 2011 Census recorded the ST population of Goa to be at 1,49,275. A significant reason for this increase in the ST population was that three new communities — Kunbi, Gawda, and Velip — had been added to Goa’s ST list in 2003. 

Speaking in overall support of the Bill, several Opposition MPs like Pratima Mondal (Trinamool Congress), Supriya Sule (NCP[SP]), and Kirsan Namdeo (Congress), questioned the government’s commitment to conduct the delimitation exercise nationwide, pointing to the perceived silence around the 2021 Census, which is yet to begin. 

Ms. Sule spoke on Tuesday seeking assurances from the government on their commitment to conduct the next Census, implement women’s reservation, and conduct the delimitation exercise – all by 2029, “because we don’t see much activity around the Census at all”.