Caste Census Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise

Caste census is again back in focus in the political landscape of the country as the Bihar government released the results of its recently concluded Caste Survey in the state. Caste survey of Bihar was an attempt at enumerating the strength and socio-economic conditions of different caste groups of the state. The Caste survey of Bihar is an attempt to pressurise the central government for conducting a socio-economic caste census for 2021 which has been delayed due to corona.

What is Caste Census and Caste Survey?

Census- Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analysing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data of all persons in a country at a specific period of time. Census in India is conducted at regular intervals of 10 years.

Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. Hence there has been demands for Socio-economic caste census to be conducted for 2021.

Caste Census- Caste census or more precisely Socio Economic caste census was conducted for the first time in Independent India in 2011. However the findings were never made public. The last published data for all castes was done in the 1931 census.

Caste Survey- Since only the Union govt has the power to conduct census, several state governments like Bihar and Odisha have been conducting socio economic caste surveys to ascertain the social and economic status of different castes for better policy making. The latest released Bihar caste survey is latest example of it.

Difference between Census, Caste Census(Socio Economic Caste Census) and Caste Survey

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What are the advantages of Caste Census?

Beneficial in Policy Making- Caste census will generate exhaustive data which will allow policymakers to develop better policies and implementation strategies for upliftment of marginalised classes. Caste census will lay the foundation for data-driven affirmative policy
formulation in a society ridden with exclusion, discrimination and marginalization based
on group identities.

Rationalisation of reservation- The current policies are based on the last caste census  which was conducted in 1931. New caste census can help the government in identifying the most benefited section and reduce their share in the overall reservation to provide an opportunity to other castes.

Better targeting of Government welfare schemes- The government welfare schemes can be better targeted towards the most marginalised sections of the community with the help of data gathered from the socio economic caste census. For example- Under the National Food Security Act, 83.92% of the population of Bihar is entitled to subsidized food grain. The Bihar survey reported that the population of the state has increased from 103.8 million in 2011 to 130.7 million in 2023. Thus by current population estimates,109.7 million persons are eligible for the subsidy. However the current beneficiary count is just 87.1 million. That is, in Bihar alone, 22.6 million persons have been excluded from this benefit at a time when food inflation is high.

Caste has an Important Position in Indian Society- While census data has been captured for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, religions and linguistic profiles, there has been no profiling of all castes in India since 1931. Caste has an important position in the Indian society and the data on caste can be helpful in ascertaining the socio-economic positions of different castes in India.

Addressing the prevalent Inequalities-  Unequal distribution of wealth, resources and education has meant an acute shortage of purchasing power among the majority of Indians. The census will help to address these issues in a democratic, scientific and objective manner. This will lead to social justice in the country.

Fulfilment of Constitutional Mandate-  Our Constitution favours 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.

Helpful in fulfilling the objectives of various commissions- Sachar committee which was formed to examine the socio-economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India, mentioned that the availability of data on religion was useful in highlighting the relative deprivation of minorities. So, similar data on caste is also desirable to identify vulnerable sections within castes. This data will be useful for Justice Rohini Commission which has been formed for the sub-categorisation of OBCs.

Addressing Intersectionality- Caste intersects with other factors such as gender, religion, and region, leading to compounded disadvantages. The census can reveal these intersections which will lead to more nuanced policy approaches that target multiple dimensions of marginalisation.

Break the myths associated with castes- The caste census will reveal the actual data on castes and remove ambiguities associated with the caste. For instance, In Karnataka, there were claims that among the castes, the Lingayats are the most numerous. So the census can reveal the true information on that.

What are the disadvantages of Caste Census?

Caste based political mobilisation- The data can be used by the political parties for their narrow political gains. This will encourage caste based mobilisations in the country. As India seek to eliminate and weaken the notion of caste, a caste census would only strengthen it. There will be from every caste group for share in the power at the cost of administrative efficiency.

Hardening of caste identities may hamper growth of national integration- There have been concerns that counting caste may help solidify or harden identities. Due to these repercussions, nearly a decade after the SECC, a sizable amount of its data remains unreleased or released only in parts.

Strengthen demands for further reservations- Caste census may increase demand for larger or separate quotas. For instance, Patels, Gujjars, Jats and other castes are demanding reservations. The caste census might induce more such demands in future. The census would put pressure on the SC to lift the 50% ceiling.

Collection of caste data is not an easy task- Enumerating the caste numbers in India is a complex task as the same caste is spelt in different ways in different states. Also one caste maybe extremely backward in one state and can be backward in the other state.

Potential Stigmatization- Disclosure of caste identities could lead to individuals being stigmatized or discriminated against based on preconceived notions associated with certain castes. This can deter honest responses and undermine the survey’s accuracy.

What should be the way forward ?

Need for sub categorisation of Backward classes- Instead of going behind the caste based census, the government can subclassify the Backward Classes like in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal etc. This will provide the benefit to intended beneficiaries.Since the government has already appointed Justice G Rohini Panel on Sub-categorisation of OBCs. The Panel has to fast pace the sub-classification process.

Use technologies to assess the caste date on SECC- The government can use technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to assess the SECC data and condense them into meaningful categories.

A Preliminary Census- Independent of census, a preliminary socio-anthropological study can be done at the State and district levels to establish all sects and sub-castes present in the population.

A caste census may not sit well with the goal of a casteless society, but it may serve as a means of addressing inequities in society. However the census must aim at gradual elimination of castes by uplifiting the socio-economically marginalised sections of the society.

Read More- The Indian Express