We have the Most Backward Classes (MBC), Other Backward Classes (OBC). And then the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
As if only the SCs belong to any caste, while others refuse to be labeled as any low caste. Now, the question is, if the founding fathers of the nation were really interested in the uplift of the people categorized as SC/ST and sought social equality for them in foreseeable future, why didn’t they have a common or standard nomenclature.
If they thought reservation system was only temporal, till all the hitherto-oppressed communities developed and attained equality in society, shouldn’t they have settled for a flexible caste hierarchy legally, which could allow upward mobility of a community from one category/group to another – when one community develops, it gets regrouped into MBC then OBC and then OC. So that after sometime, there would be no Scheduled Castes or Most Backward Castes, but people will be homogeneously categorized based on their economic status, which can’t be prevented, because the more hard-working will end up earning more than others.
Now, if the government and any one concerned with society really want social uplift of the downtrodden, how do they appraise the development of people of all castes, especially those classified lower in the order, if not through the national population census?
But the funny part is that all census since 1931 have avoided collecting caste-based data, except for Scheduled Castes.
This totally beats me. By counting only the number of people under SC, have the governments tried to ensure that their number (vote bank) does not increase, or check if they have converted to other religions (and thus are out of SC tag),
To put it straight, how would any government have studied the development of the people categorized as SC/ST without having the corresponding socio-economic data of those belonging to MBC/OBC?
In the words of the government:
The Indian Census is the most credible source of information on Demography (Population characteristics), Economic Activity, Literacy & Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanization, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data … It provides valuable information for planning and formulation of polices for Central & State Governments and is widely used by National & International agencies … Census is the basis for reviewing the country's progress in the past decade, monitoring the on-going schemes of the Government and most importantly, plan for the future.
This explanation begs only two questions.
If the census is meant to collect data on so many wide-ranging demographic parameters, why such a big debate on including caste, because without any data on caste, would there be a large lacunae in the whole study?
Secondly, if the census is not an end by itself and is only a means towards achieving the nation’s goals, how can it leave out any vital parameter, especially one which has been plaguing the country for thousands of years?
And let’s remember that as long the reservation system prevails, though the lower castes may gain economic benefits, they would be very far from achieving any real status in society because of the patronizing nature of those in power. Don’t we still see opposition to inter-caste marriages even in our developed cities?
Hence, for real social equality, the reservation system must go. And that would happen only when the lower castes develop, till which time, once again, quota system – and more importantly its appraisal through census -- is required.
Now, those opposed to including caste into census say that caste is a divisive factor and so should be avoided. Agreed. But doesn’t the war to end the divisive force start with counting its victims?
Very importantly, I don’t understand how it can be a threat to our social and communal harmony, unless the unique ID is going to include caste name. In such a case, it will only be easier during the time of communal clashes to find the targets. So any plan to include caste name in the ID will only be demonic, for there can be very few worse ways to hurt the dignity of those already being termed as lower castes.
Moreover, we anyway have a rough estimate of how much percentage of the population constitutes each caste category – how else did they plan certain percent reservation for OBC?
So, including caste in census will only further give a concrete figure, in which case I don’t see what the whole hullaballoo is about.
And those who feel that caste should not be included, just because… hmm … err … it is bad, they can just take a walk.
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