Hyderabad, June 16 -- Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday lauded the centre's decision to conduct the 16th population census, which would include caste enumeration, and labelled it a "historic step."

Advocating for the caste census, he said that the work at the policy level with regard to the welfare schemes, budget allocation, political reservations would be worked upon in a proper manner.

"The government of India has taken a historic step. Since Independence, the general census will entail a census of the backward classes. Today, the government of India has issued the notification. There will also be a caste census; it is a very big decision. After this, be it welfare activity, scheme, budget allocation, political reservation, eve...