Caste Census – Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by PM has decided to include caste enumeration as part of next Census exercise. The last time when India’s entire population was counted by caste was in pre-independent India – in 1931. Since then, only Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes have been counted in the Census exercise. 

What is Caste Census and Caste Survey?

• Census: Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing 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. Under Article 246 of the Constitution, the Census is a Union subject.
• Caste Census: A caste census involves the systematic recording of individuals’ caste identities during a national census. It aims to gather data on the distribution, socio-economic status, education levels, and other demographic details of various caste groups within the population.
• 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. Thus, the most recent caste data available is from 1931 Census.
• Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC): SECC was conducted in based on the recommendations of Group of Ministers headed by then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in 2010. It was done outside of the purview of Census exercise. However the findings were never made public due to concerns about data accuracy & consistency.
• Caste Survey: Since only the Union govt has the power to conduct census, several state governments like Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana have already conducted caste surveys to ascertain the social and economic status of different castes for better policymaking.

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

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What are the advantages of Caste Census?

1. Evidence-based Policymaking: A caste census can provide precise and comprehensive data on the socio-economic status, educational attainment, health indicators, and representation of various caste groups at the national and regional levels. This granular data is crucial for formulating targeted and effective policies to address specific disparities faced by different communities. It can help in identifying castes and sub-castes that are particularly marginalized or lagging behind in development indicators, allowing for focused interventions.

2. Rationalization of reservation: The current policies are based on the last caste census  which was conducted in 1931. The data can provide a factual basis for reviewing and rationalizing existing reservation policies in education and employment, ensuring they are aligned with the current socio-economic realities of different caste groups. For e.g. 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. It can help in identifying the communities that may currently be excluded from affirmative action but are demonstrably backward and in need of such support for e.g. Denotified, Nomadic & Semi-Nomadic Tribes. Regular caste-based data collection can also help in monitoring the impact of reservation policies over time and make necessary adjustments.

3. Better targeting of Government welfare schemes: Caste census would lead to the identification of both the dominant & the dominated, which will have a positive effect in terms of targeting the welfare. Reliable caste-based data can inform the allocation of public resources, ensuring that funds are directed towards the communities that need them most and implementing the development programs that are tailored to the specific needs of different caste groups, leading to more efficient use of resources.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Fulfilment of constitutional mandate:  Our Constitution favours conducting a caste census.  Article 340 of the Constitution empowers the government to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations for their advancement. The constitutional body NCBC also urged the government to collect data on the population of OBCs as part of Census of India 2021 exercise.

7. 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-categorization of OBCs.

8. Addressing inter-sectionality: 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 marginalization.

9. 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.

10. Empowering marginalized communities: Enumeration of castes within the Census exercise would likely lead to the emergence of new identities & aspirations. This would lead to opening of avenues for new political negotiations, coalitions, and party politics which will result in deepening of democracy.

What can be the challenges of Caste Census?

1. Caste based political mobilisation: The data can be used by the political parties for their narrow political gains. This will encourage caste based mobilizations 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.

2. Hardening of caste identities may hamper growth of national integration: There have been concerns that counting caste may help solidify or harden identities. It might lead to a renewed emphasis on caste as a primary marker of identity. The process of enumeration and the subsequent use of the data could potentially exacerbate existing social tensions and create new fault lines between different caste groups, especially if perceived as leading to unequal benefits or discrimination. Due to these repercussions, nearly a decade after the SECC, a sizable amount of its data remains unreleased or released only in parts.

3. 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.

4. Administrative and Logistical Complexities: India has thousands of castes and sub-castes, with significant regional variations in nomenclature and classification. Accurately identifying and categorizing each individual’s caste can be a monumental task for enumerators, increasing the risk of errors and inconsistencies. The Registrar General of India rejected the request forwarded from PMO to conduct the caste census in 2010 due to logistical & practical difficulties.

5. Lack of a Uniform Definition: There isn’t a universally agreed-upon definition of “caste” in the Indian context, making it challenging to establish clear and consistent criteria for enumeration. 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.

6. 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?

1. Standardized Classification: Develop a clear and standardized list of castes and sub-castes, potentially drawing upon existing government classifications and involving anthropological and sociological expertise. Address the issue of synonymous caste names across regions.

2. Comprehensive Training: Provide extensive and sensitive training to enumerators on the importance of accuracy, respectful engagement, and handling potential sensitivities around caste identity. Emphasize the voluntary nature of participation and data confidentiality.

3. Ensuring Data Accuracy and Reliability:

• Community Involvement: Involve local community leaders and caste organizations in the process to build trust and ensure accurate identification.
• Verification Mechanisms: Implement mechanisms for data verification at multiple levels to minimize errors and inconsistencies.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct extensive public awareness campaigns to educate people about the purpose and benefits of the census, address privacy concerns, and encourage accurate participation.

4. Data Sensitivity: Information about an individual’s caste is highly sensitive, and concerns about data privacy and potential misuse need to be addressed. Ensure that strong data protection laws and protocols are in place to safeguard the collected information and prevent its misuse.

5. Avoid Political Misuse: Establish clear protocols and legal safeguards to prevent the data from being used for divisive or partisan purposes.  Frame the census as a tool for inclusive development, not as a means to deepen social divisions.

Conclusion:

Though there have been several apprehensions about the consequences of the caste census, however, it is up to the government & the civil society together to ensure that the caste census is not done for the fragmentation but for harmony in society. It would be a golden opportunity for better power sharing & for deepening of democracy.