"Our Intention Clear": Nitish Kumar Explains Purpose of Bihar Caste Census

The Chief Minister further stressed that the financial status of every family, be it from any caste or community, will also be recorded.

As Bihar kicked off its much anticipated caste-based headcount on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reiterated that the purpose of the exercise is to get a clear estimate of the financial situation of all communities, to aid in developmental work.

Talking to NDTV, he said, "We have demanded since the beginning that caste-based census should be conducted across the country so that there's information about the status of people from different castes to work on their upliftment".

Mr Kumar said all parties in Bihar sat together and decided this. "We went to meet the Prime Minister, and all of us presented our views. The Centre said it won't do a caste-based census, and if a state wants to do it, it's free to. States can't conduct a census, so we are doing a 'Jaati Aadharit Ganana' (caste-based headcount)," he added.

On the procedure, and arrangements, Nitish Kumar said all officials involved in the mammoth exercise were properly trained, and a good number of people have been brought in for it.