Critics contend that data based on caste would serve to further draw lines of division.
However, we must recognize the contradiction in our policies: although caste data is excluded from the Census Act of 1948, it is the foundation of our welfare and quota systems.
The long-overdue discussion on caste-based data has been sparked by Telangana’s socio-political, economic, educational, and caste census, which was launched on Wednesday.
In keeping with pledges made in its election manifesto, the Congress-led project seeks to poll all 1.17 crore households in the state. Similar to a mini-census, this endeavor is momentous in that it aims to collect real caste data, something the national census has not dared to do. This is the first attempt of this kind since the British surveys conducted in the 1930s, which highlights the extent of our society’s reluctance to face caste.
The timing may present questions in principle because a complete census is scheduled for 2025. Why is it redundant? The study identifies and catalogs Other Backward Classes (OBCs), also known as “socially and educationally backward classes,” which is an area where the Census may not go. This information is crucial for legitimacy as well as equity. There are concerns about the Center’s reluctance to incorporate caste data in the next census, but one thing is certain: policies and quotas that are based solely on conjecture cannot work. For example, the OBC reservations made by the Mandal Commission are predicated on estimates from several decades ago.
The entire system is in danger of becoming obsolete in the absence of accurate data. Take the recent caste-based survey conducted in Bihar, which found that the most disadvantaged members of these communities are frequently left behind as benefits meant for OBCs frequently end up in the hands of a small number of powerful individuals. Similar to Peter Drucker’s maxim, “Only what gets measured gets managed,” data sheds light on these truths. Being aware of who is excluded from advancement is not divisive; rather, it is essential. Similar trends are observed throughout the world; for instance, inequalities in access and opportunity were shown by Germany’s private census of Black citizens.
Data based on caste, according to critics, would only serve to further polarize society. However, it’s important to recognize the contradiction in our policies: our reservation and welfare systems are based on caste data, even though the Census Act of 1948 rejects it. The necessity of accurate statistics has been brought up by the Supreme Court countless times. Planning meaningful development or distributing resources properly are impossible without precise figures. The survey conducted by Telangana may be the beginning of a much-needed procedure. Perhaps the rest of the nation should pay attention if caste statistics can finally provide clarity and focused aid.
Ignoring caste statistics won’t end divisions in a country as complex as India’s; rather, it would simply serve to maintain them under the pretense of togetherness.
Dr. Abhishek Verma
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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