EDITORIAL
Living in the Caste
Article published on 5/28/2010 11:21:34 PM IST Font Size:
It appears that contemporary India has yet to overcome the problems of
the past, which instead, dominate the current wasting much time and
resources in squabbles, since politicians have not progressed to the
desired degree of rationality and congruence in seeing the larger
picture. The issue of caste-based census, to the outside world, would
seem to be an unthinkable proposition and an idea that betrays the
progress that has been achieved in various fields. Even before the
first phase of the ongoing census operations for 2011, the issue had
cropped up with various political parties taking the cue for some
statements, mainly to play to the gallery of electoral vote banks.
Though taking pride in being a rising power of the current century,
India's mindset is still besot with the dreary past in an era of
globalism. The issue is whether the current census should include
caste as one of the criteria. Those against it have good reasons as
casteism has been the bane of Indian society. They feel that
caste-based census would only legitimize divisions among the people.
Further, the caste business has led to violence in many parts of the
country but for some vested interested politicians, caste is their
source of getting attention and winning election.Anyway, the union
cabinet, has referred the matter to a Group of Ministers(GoM)headed by
finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, to study and submit its report or
recommendation. If the government finally agrees to include caste in
the census, then the hurdles would prove to be one too many. There are
far too many castes in India and trying to put them in order would be
a Herculean task, which enumerators assigned with the current census
operations, would not be able to undertake. This is because,
enumerators have not been provided with required information and
training to identify whom to include under what category such as Other
Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes etc. Though
there is a Central and state-specific lists of OBCs; yet while some
states don't have a list of OBCs, some have including their own
sub-set termed as Most Backward Classes. There are also names that are
found in both Scheduled Castes as well as OBCs and therefore, leaving
it to the whims of the enumerators would only create another mess and
consequent political furore. Those migrants from another state and
status of children from inter-caste marriages would also pose a stiff
challenge. Also those from the Scheduled Castes who became either
Christians or Muslims and who have not been classified as Scheduled
Castes would also pose problems. Given the fluid nature of caste as a
social marker, trying to collect accurate data is unfeasible.
According to the history of the Census, even the then British rulers
who attempted to carry out a caste census, had to finally give up when
it was found that the matter was not as easy as classification of
plants and animals or identifying the race and religion of the people.
Those in favour believe taking a caste-based census would enable a
better delivery of benefits of welfare schemes. Such a populist
concept only strengthens the caste-based reservations which parliament
has been so divided on.
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