Tribal groups have long demanded that followers of their 'Sarna' religion be listed separately as they worship nature and have a distinct tradition and culture.
On Wednesday, the Jharkhand government called a special assembly session in the Census 2021 to demand a separate religious code for tribals from the Central government. Currently, the census classifies people under six religions - Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist - while those who do not subscribe to these are clubbed under the 'Other' category.
Tribal groups have long demanded that followers of their 'Sarna' religion be listed separately as they worship nature and have a distinct tradition and culture.
Some have threatened to boycott the census exercise if the demand is not met. They say that the first census in 1951 had the option of being counted as a "tribe" but was later removed. With the Center dropping the "other" option for Census 2021, tribals will be forced to either leave the column or declare their members of one of the six specified religions, they point out. They say a separate list will help them maintain their religious identity.
The National Scheduled Tribes Commission had earlier suggested that Sarna Dharma be given an independent category in the 2011 Census Religion Code. The organizations then asked the tribals to choose the 'other' option in the census.
According to census data, the number of people making a mark in this category increased by 20% in 2001 from 6.64 million in 2011 to 7.93 million in 2011. The Sarna is one of the largest 'other' groups in Jharkhand and Odisha. Tribal groups claim that in the 2011 census, 42 lakh people from Jharkhand and around six crore people across the country mentioned their religion as Sarna, which was included in the 'Other' category.
The ruling coalition in Jharkhand in its election manifesto promised to implement the "Sarna Code." While the state BJP has promised a separate tribal identity in the past, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh claims that all Adivasis are Hindus.
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 "DNA Explained: Why is Shibu Soren Jharkhand government demanding separate religious code for Sarna tribals?")
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