The economic wheels of Mumbai had long ago broken down caste and class barriers to embrace every soul struggling to carve a niche for him in the vast ocean of humanity.
With the Supreme Court recently questioning the statistical authenticity of the OBC population in the country — pointing out that no such census had ever been conducted — political leaders talk to Shubangi Khapre on whether conducting a census will polarise society
When the Supreme Court questioned the authenticity of the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) population in the country recently, some angry politicians demanded that a new caste census be conducted. But is such a move wise? Shubhangi Khapre talks to political leaders and asks them if we are ready for such a census.
The economic wheels of Mumbai had long ago broken down caste and class barriers to embrace every soul struggling to carve a niche for him in the vast ocean of humanity. The local trains, which transport more than half a million people to work every day, never make distinctions between backward or forward classes. In the sprawling concrete jungles of India’s commercial capital, nobody draws a line of control between a Dalit and a Brahmin. Asking an individual his/her caste is equal to committing a sin. So, how will this city accept a caste census?
The issue of conducting a caste census came to the fore after the Supreme Court (SC) questioned the statistical authenticity of the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) population in the country, while spelling out its verdict on the controversial reservation for OBC in educational institutions. It wanted to know how the government compiled the statistics when considering the fact that no census had ever been conducted. On its part, the Centre had cited several reports and surveys conducted in the last three decades which have been accepted across the country, including in Maharashtra.
Ramdas Athavale, the Republican Party of India’s (RPI) head in Mumbai on Monday, demanded the next population census should be on caste lines. “After the Supreme Court raised objections, it has become imperative to conduct a caste census. I am also going to raise this issue in Parliament. The government should advance the next census to 2008 instead of 2011.”
The caste census issue is very likely to snowball into a larger controversy, as politicians and social organisations are worried about the ramifications of the SC’s pronouncement. All the major political parties are not very pleased with the fact that the apex court is questioning the OBCs population statistics. Interestingly, parties like the Congress and BJP have not given their consent to the caste census as yet.
Government records show the caste census was last conducted in 1931. After India’s independence the political leadership took a conscious decision not to promote the population census on caste lines. Leaders felt such an exercise would be regressive, and not contribute to promoting a casteless society in the future.
Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar, said, “We should not commit the mistake of allowing a caste census. The existing caste bias in some quarters notwithstanding, I would still like to emphasize that the process of social integration among the Dalits and Brahmins is in progress. The forward castes’ total intolerance towards the backwards castes is slowly fading. By conducting a caste census we will revive centuries-old casteism.”
However, those supporting the caste census maintain that no matter how much one would like to do away with casteism, it is very prevalent in society. Or else how does one explain the nation-wide protest against OBC reservation in education institutions, or why a Dalit woman is subjected to physical abuse at the hands of forward castes in the distant villages even in a progressive state like Maharashtra.
According to BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, “If the purpose of the caste census is to establish the exact population of backward castes for whom the government is providing welfare schemes, there is nothing wrong. I don’t think a caste census will further polarise society.”
He added, “If the Sacchar Committee report, which advocates a greater role for Muslims in the mainstream, does not divide society, why should caste census?”
Ambedkar feels that instead of debating over the 27 per cent OBCs population statistics, a question which could be open for debate is whether the creamy layer among the ST/SCs and OBCs should be covered in reservation benefits.
Dalit Economic Forum chief Milind Kamble said, “I am not against a caste census. It will prove that OBCs constitute over 50 per cent of Maharashtra’s population. It is better we know the exact population figures of every caste. Even the Mandal Commission had already identified 300 communities in OBC category. So, once the census is done, even those protesting against the OBC figures will realise their mistake.”
In any case, the present laws and court order clearly maintain that reservations for backwards castes should not exceed 50 per cent. The 22.5 per cent reservation for the SC/STs is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution which cannot be tampered with. This leaves room for just 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs.
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