- Prelims: Census, The Census Act, 1948, NPR, National Register of Citizens (NRC) etc
- Mains GS Paper I and II: Government policies and interventions for development of various sectors and issues arising out of them etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Caste survey in Bihar found that 63% of Bihar’s 13 crore population belong to castes listed under the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) c
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Census:
- The census provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the country’s population.
- The Census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872.
- It helped in framing new policies, government programs to uplift areas of improvement in the community.
- The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881.
- Every ten years: Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
Who conducts the census?
- The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The Census is one of the most credible sources of information on the following:
- Economic Activity.
- Literacy and Education.
- Housing & Household Amenities.
- Urbanization, Fertility, and Mortality.
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Census in India:
- India’s first Census was held in 1872, conducted non-synchronously in different parts of the country.
- After that, India has held its decadal censuses regularly from 1881 to 2011.
SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census):
- SECC was first conducted in 1931 which aimed to collect information on the economic status of Indian families, both in rural and urban areas, to identify indicators of deprivation.
- It also collects data on specific caste names to evaluate the economic conditions of different caste groups.
Difference Between Census & SECC:
- Census provides a general portrait of the Indian population, while SECC is used to identify beneficiaries of state support.
- Census data is confidential under the Census Act of 1948, while personal information in SECC is open for use by government departments to grant or restrict benefits to households.
The History of Caste-based Data Collection in India:
- Caste-based data collection has a long history in India, with information on castes being included up to 1931.
- Post 1951, the decision to stop collecting caste data was made to move away from a divisive approach and promote national unity.
What do socio-economic data indicate?
- The average monthly per capita consumption expenditures (MPCE) of Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC) and OBC households in rural areas were, respectively 65%, 73% and 84% of the MPCE of the ‘Others’(National Sample Survey (NSS), 2011-12.
- In urban areas the average MPCE of ST, SC and OBC households were 68%, 63% and 70% of the general category in 2011-12.
- NIT Rourkela: It has estimated that while on average 25% of Indians were multidimensionally poor in 2015-16.
- The poverty ratio among STs was 4%, SCs 29.2%, OBCs 24.5% and Others 14.9%
- Estimates by scholars from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) show that while almost 28% of all Indians were multidimensionally poor in 2015-16
- The poverty headcount ratio among STs was 50.6%, SCs 33.3%, OBCs 27.2% and Others 15.6%.
- The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio among Muslims at 31% was also higher than that of Hindus (28%), Christians (16%) and other religious communities (7%).
- The Sachar Committee report (2006) had estimated that 31% of Muslims were ‘Below Poverty Line’ on the basis of the NSS 61st round, 2004-05
- Poverty headcount ratio among SCs & STs together was 35%, Hindu OBCs 21% and other Hindus (general category) 7%.
- Methodologies of poverty estimation have changed significantly in the past two decades, suggesting a significant decline in the poverty level.
Education and employment:
- The general category has a much higher proportion of literates, secondary and high school pass outs, graduates and postgraduates than OBCs, SCs and STs.
- As per NSS 75th round (2017-18), while only 3% of STs, 4% of SCs and 6% of OBCs are graduates
- The proportion of graduates in the general category is over 12%.
- The proportion of post-graduates within the general category is over 3%, among OBCs around 1% and among SCs and STs, below 1%.
- In terms of employment status (PLFS 2021-22): over 30% of the workforce in the general category had a regular job
- The proportion of regular or salaried workers among OBCs and SCs was around 20% and among STs just over 12%.
- Almost 29% of STs, 38% of SCs and 20% of OBCs were casual laborers, against only 11.2% of the general category.
- Informal sector is largely populated with STs, SCs and OBCs while the general category has a disproportionately large share of formal employment.
- As per union government data, 52.7(fifty two point seven)% of whom belonged to the general category.
- The proportion of employees in the general category is much greater at over 64% in the most qualified and highest paid cohort, i.e. Group A employees.
When did caste surveys begin?
- Caste wise enumeration of the population was introduced under the British colonial administration in 1881 and continued till the 1931 census.
- Independent India’s governments abandoned full caste enumeration on the apprehension that it would strengthen caste divisions and perpetuate the caste system.
- The report of the Backward Classes Commission 1980: There is equality only among equals. To equate unequals is to perpetuate inequality.”
The Mandal Commission report:
- It estimated the combined population of Hindu and non-Hindu OBCs to be 52% of India’s population.
- Article 15(4) enables the State to make special provisions for the advancement of “socially and educationally backward classes of citizens.”
- While the population share of OBCs was estimated at 52%, only 27% reservation for OBCs in all government services, technical and professional institutions was recommended by the Mandal commission
- In order to keep the overall reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs together below the 50% ceiling set by the Supreme Court.
Indra Sawhney judgment:
- “Identification of a group or collectivity by any criteria other than caste, such as, occupation cum social cum educational cum economic criteria ending in caste may not be invalid.”
Way Forward
- Given the wide divergence of the OBC population thrown up by various official sample surveys ranging from 41% to 46%, between 2015-16 to 2021-22
- Only a full caste enumeration can help in ascertaining an accurate number.
- Ascertaining the numbers and proportions of individual castes within the OBC category have assumed much significance in the light of concerns regarding reservations and other benefits for OBCs getting concentrated among certain dominant caste groups.
- The Bihar caste survey shows that 122 small caste groups combined together in the EBC category
- It accounted for 36% of the State’s population, which was the largest share among social categories.
- Justice Rohini Commission: A nationwide socio-economic caste census is necessary to evolve scientific criteria for such sub-categorisation.
- This would also be necessary for all States, which have their own State-level OBC lists, given the wide variety in caste composition.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
