The Jain community is demanding a tag as a separate community. Large number of messages are being circulated to ensure that they count themselves separately in the second phase of census.
The Jain community is demanding a tag as a separate community. Large number of messages are being circulated to ensure that they count themselves separately in the second phase of census.
One of the messages making rounds is “Please count yourself separately in the second phase of census starting from February 9 as we want to know the precise figure of the Jain population in the country. Jains should avoid being counted as Hindu, as Jains are an independent community.”
“The idea is to get a hang of the percentage of the Jain population. The last count was in 2001 which counted us as 0.4 % of the total population. We want to know the accurate figure and hope to seek a national minority status with an amendment in the constitution,” said Parasmalji Ranka, president of the Dadar Jain Mandir (Shantinath Jain Derasar).
Lately, the community is seeking to find itself in the political set up. During the last assembly elections, a priest had asked one of the Jains to withdraw in favour of the other to ensure Jain votes do not get divided.
“When other communities like Sikhs and Christians have a minority status, why not us?” asks Dhanpal Solanki, another community member. With the new census, Jains intend to make a presentation to the PM on amendments to the Constitution to identify them as minorities. Already ten states including Maharashtra have termed them as minority.
“The other benefit is that minorities get the protection under constitution to manage and protect their religious and educational institutes. Or else like the Hindus, even we our religious places could be taken over by the government. The other benefit is that minority institutes can reserve up to 50% seats for their community members and have 100% management rights. There is a misconception that all Jains are rich. In many states they are below the poverty line. In such states they can make use of the PM’s 15 point welfare program for minorities under central government, which has scholarships, loans, and other educational, economic and employment opportunities for minorities,” added Solanki.
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