Sonia Gandhi urges government for early census.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has urged the government to conduct the population census at the earliest, emphasizing its crucial role in welfare schemes. She pointed out that beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are still being identified based on the 2011 Census, rather than the latest population figures.
Gandhi stressed that this outdated data is depriving millions of eligible citizens of essential food and welfare benefits. She also highlighted that an updated census would ensure fair and accurate distribution of resources, particularly for marginalized communities.
Her remarks come amid growing calls for the government to expedite the long-delayed 2021 Census, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opposition continues to press for urgent action on this matter.
Sonia Gandhi Urges Government to Conduct Population Census for Fair NFSA Implementation
14 Crore People Deprived of Food Security Benefits, Says Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi:
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday pressed the government to expedite the population census, emphasizing that nearly 14 crore Indians are being denied their rightful benefits under the **National
In her maiden Zero Hour intervention in the Rajya Sabha, the former Congress president highlighted that the government continues to determine NFSA beneficiaries based on the 2011 Census, despite significant population growth over the past decade.
Outdated Census Data Hurting the Poor
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was introduced by the UPA government in September 2013, a landmark step toward ensuring food and nutritional security for India’s 140 crore people. Under this law, up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population is eligible to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This translated to approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries as per the 2011 Census.
However, Sonia Gandhi pointed out that with no fresh census in over a decade, a significant portion of India’s population is not covered under the scheme, leaving millions without access to free food grains.
she said. “This is an injustice to 14 crore people who have been excluded simply because the government has failed to update the population data.”
Census Delayed for Over Four Years
Gandhi sharply criticized the government for delaying the decennial census, which was originally scheduled for 2021 but has now been postponed indefinitely.
She further alleged that Budget allocations for 2024 indicate that the government does not intend to conduct the census this year either, making it unlikely that NFSA quotas will be revised anytime soon.
The Urgent Need for Census Completion
The absence of updated census data not only affects food security but also impacts policymaking in critical areas like education, healthcare, and employment. Without a fresh census, government welfare programs cannot effectively reach all eligible citizens, Gandhi warned.
She asserted that food security is not a privilege but a fundamental right, and the delay in conducting the census is a direct violation of this right.
Despite concerns over outdated census data, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)—a program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide free food grains to economically vulnerable citizens—has been extended for five years from January 1, 2024.
While this extension ensures continued food support for existing NFSA beneficiaries, the lack of a revised census means that many newly eligible families will continue to be excluded from the scheme.
Political and Public Reactions
Gandhi’s remarks have sparked a renewed debate on the delay in the census and its impact on welfare schemes. Opposition leaders have accused the government of deliberately stalling the census to avoid accountability in resource distribution and welfare planning.
Congress leaders have called the census delay “an attack on transparency”, while activists and social organizations have voiced concerns about the exclusion of millions from essential food security benefits.
On the other hand, government officials have maintained that logistical challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic were key reasons behind the postponement of the census. However, critics argue that several other countries successfully conducted their population surveys despite the pandemic, and India’s failure to do so raises serious concerns about governance priorities.
Why the Census is Crucial for Welfare Distribution
The population census is a foundational tool for government planning and policymaking. Its data is used to determine:
- Welfare benefits distribution (including food security programs like NFSA)
- Political representation (redrawing of constituencies and reservation policies)
- Infrastructure planning (schools, hospitals, and roads)
- Economic policies (employment generation and industry development)
A delayed census not only affects food security but also hampers social and economic progress.
Conclusion: A Call for Immediate Action
Sonia Gandhi’s intervention has reignited the demand for immediate census completion, as millions continue to miss out on welfare benefits due to outdated data.
With food security directly impacting the well-being of India’s most vulnerable populations, the government faces increasing pressure to act swiftly and ensure that every eligible citizen is accounted for in welfare programs.
As the debate over the census unfolds, the key question remains: Will the government take urgent steps to address the issue, or will millions continue to be excluded from their rightful entitlements?