What is a Caste Census? Importance, Challenges, and Way Forward”

Introduction

The concept of a caste census has been a topic of significant debate in India’s socio-political landscape. At its core, a caste census involves a detailed enumeration of the caste-wise population to understand the socio-economic and educational disparities within various caste groups. While the idea has been supported as a tool to promote equity and social justice, it has also faced criticism for potentially reinforcing caste divisions. With a long historical backdrop, recent political demands have reignited the debate, making it imperative to analyze the benefits, challenges, and implications of conducting such a census in modern India.

What is Caste Census?

  • It is inclusion of caste-wise breakdown of India’s population.
  • The objective of caste census is to collect comprehensive data on the distribution of various caste groups within a given region or country.
  • It tries to look into social, economic, and educational parameters to understand the working of caste dynamics in India.

Context:

  • Though this is not a new demand as many regional parties since 2009 have been demanding it which ultimately led to Socio-Economic Caste Census in 2011.
  • Currently, the demand for a Caste Census has become a heated political issue. Many opposition parties including Indian National Congress, many NGO’s and more recently even RSS also demanded for a caste based census.

Historical Background of Caste Census:

  • Caste was enumerated in British India Censuses (1881-1931).
  • Post-Independence, the 1951 Census excluded caste enumeration except for SCs and STs, who continue to be counted.
  • In 1961, the GOI recommended states conduct their own surveys for state-specific OBC lists, as there were no central reservations for OBCs at that time.
  • Though Census is a Union subject, the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 allows States and local bodies to gather necessary data, as seen in Karnataka (2015) and Bihar (2023).

Previous Attempt at Caste Census in Independent India:

  • In 2010, after significant lobbying, the Parliament unanimously resolved to include caste enumeration in the 2011 Census.
    • The last caste enumeration in the 1931 Census identified 4,147 castes.
  • However, the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-2011, which was not conducted under the Census Act, 1948, failed due to poor design and execution, resulting in an implausible figure of 46 lakh castes.
  • The SECC-2011’s failure was because of the fact that it was not conducted under the Census Act, 1948 as the Act was not amended to include caste as a parameter.
  • It was conducted through the Union Ministries of Rural Development and Urban Development which did not have prior experience of conducting sociological/anthropological surveys.
  • Additionally, the questionnaire was poorly designed and asked open-ended questions about caste.
    • The enumerators couldn’t distinguish between genuine castes, alternative caste names, larger caste groups, sub-castes, surnames, clan names, gotras, etc.

Benefits of Caste Census:

  • It is often said that “only what gets measured gets managed” and Caste Census allows the proper measurement of each Caste group.
  • Proponents of Caste Census give multiple reasons:
    • To address social inequality.
    • To ensure equitable distribution of resources.
    • To monitor the effectiveness of affirmative action policies.
    • To provide a holistic picture of Indian Society.
    • To also fulfill the constitutional mandate given under Article 340.
  • Moral imperative.
Moral Imperative:
  • Lack of proper caste data has allowed elites among upper caste and dominant OBC’s to disproportionately control income, assets and power.
  • In 2018, the G. Rohini Commission analyzed more than 1 lakh 30 thousand government jobs and found that 97% of the reserved jobs and seats have gone to 25% of OBC’s sub-castes.
  • 37% of OBC had 0% representation in jobs and institutes.

To address social inequality:

  • Caste remains a key social structure in India, evidenced by low inter-caste marriages, prevalent caste surnames and marks, residential segregation, etc.
  • Only about 5% of Indian marriages were inter-caste as of 2011-12.

To ensure equitable distribution of resources:

  • Without accurate data on the population of OBCs and other groups, it is difficult to ensure equitable distribution of resources.
  • A Caste Census can provide insights into the socio-economic conditions and needs of different caste groups.
    • Caste-based discrimination is still prevalent in many parts of India. A caste census can help identify the disadvantaged groups and bring them to the forefront of policy making.

    To ensure equitable distribution of resources:

    • Without accurate data on the population of OBCs and other groups, it is difficult to ensure equitable distribution of resources.
    • A Caste Census can provide insights into the socio-economic conditions and needs of different caste groups.

    To monitor the effectiveness of affirmative action policies:

    • To promote social justice, India is having affirmative action policies.
    • However, in the absence of Caste Census, it is nearly impossible to evaluate the impacts of these policies over the last 35 years.

    Constitutional Mandate:

    • Our Constitution too favors conducting a caste census.
    • Article 340 mandates the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by governments.

    Arguments Against Caste Census:

    • Reinforces the Caste system:
      • Opponents of a caste census argue that caste-based discrimination is illegal and that a caste census would only reinforce the caste system.
      • They believe that focusing on individual rights and equal opportunities for all citizens should be prioritized over categorizing people based on their caste identities.
    • Can lead to further Social Division:
      • Some argue that a caste census could lead to further social divisions and that it is better to focus on promoting social harmony instead.
      • They believe that emphasizing commonalities among people rather than highlighting differences would be more beneficial for national integration.
      • Some argue that a caste census could lead to further social divisions and that it is better to focus on promoting social harmony instead.
      • They believe that emphasizing commonalities among people rather than highlighting differences would be more beneficial for national integration.
    • Difficult to Define Caste:
      • Defining castes is a complex issue, as there are thousands of castes and sub-castes in India. A caste census would require a clear definition of castes, which is not an easy task.
      • Critics argue that this could lead to confusion, disputes, and further divisions within society.
    • The Hindu Article “is the Caste Census a useful exercise”:
      • Points towards multiple problems in conducting caste census.
        • 1. Upward caste mobility claim
        • 2. Downward caste mobility claim
        • 3. Problem of caste misclassification: similar – sounding castes and surnames often lead to confusion in caste classification. For eg, in Rajasthan surnames like ‘Dhanak’, Dhankia and Dhanuk are classified as SC, while Dhanka is listed as ST. Similarly there is an issue with the use of sen as caste title.

    Way Forward: 

    • To address the failures of SECC-2011, the Census Act, 1948, should be amended to mandate caste enumeration, removing the discretion of the Union executive.
    • The data must not become a weapon for deepening faultlines and increasing polarisation to win elections. It should not lead to the splintering and shrinking of the very notion of representation in a large and diverse democracy.
    • Sociological and anthropological experts should draft state-specific caste lists, publish them online for public input, and finalize them before providing them to enumerators.

    Conclusion

    A caste census is a double-edged sword that holds the potential to address social inequalities and ensure equitable resource distribution while also raising concerns about deepening caste divisions. To move forward, it is essential to strike a balance between social justice and national unity. A well-structured and transparent approach, guided by sociological expertise and devoid of political bias, can help harness the benefits of a caste census without exacerbating societal divisions. Ultimately, the goal should be to create an inclusive and equitable society where every citizen’s needs and rights are acknowledged and addressed.

    GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity):

    1. What are the constitutional provisions related to the collection of caste data in India? Analyze the significance of Article 340 in this context.
    2. Highlight the reasons for the failure of the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. What measures can ensure better implementation in the future?
    3. Discuss the role of a caste census in strengthening affirmative action policies in India.

    GS Paper I (Indian Society):

    1. How does caste continue to influence social and economic structures in India? Analyze in the context of census data.
    2. Examine the historical evolution of caste enumeration in India. How did it change post-independence?
    3. Discuss how the lack of caste-based data impacts social justice and equity in policy formulation.

    GS Paper III (Economic Development and Statistics):

    1. How can the data from a caste census be effectively utilized to ensure equitable resource allocation and monitor the success of government welfare schemes?
    2. Analyze the economic implications of caste-based inequalities and the role of accurate census data in addressing them.

    GS Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude):

    1. What are the ethical dilemmas associated with conducting a caste census in a diverse democracy like India?
    2. Discuss the ethical challenges of balancing affirmative action with meritocracy in the context of caste census data.

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