The Government’s Decision to Include Caste Enumeration in India’s Population Census is welcome. As the Basis of a Social Hierchy that Inhibits Mobility in Indian Society, Caste is Inimical to the Notion of Equality that’s a Core Characteristic of Democracy.
The dynamism of our economy has weakened links between castes and obcupations, with favorite socio-economic outcomes, especially for groups with a long records of depravation. Our policy of affirmative action, with jobs and educational seats reserved for candidates from “Socially and economically backward classes,” in the constitution’s Words, Has Has Helped Maany of the Underprivileged movie ahead in life.
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However, the extent to which caste has lost its power to hold people back and the challenge that remains is a matter of speech in the absence of data on the Country’s Caste Compostion. Independent India Chose to Dispense with a caste headcountLast don in 1931 under British rule. A Reversal of that call may cause Unease Among Citizens who do not want such an identity rakes up officially, but it will replace the Fog of Gujork With Data.
How should this caste count be designed? Castes Similar in Occupation and Ritual Status Have Different Names in Different States. Even within the same state, caste nomenclature can vary. How to Standardize these tags is one challenge. Then, there is the question of sub-caste, which poses the puzzle of white a group should be subsuined in a larger caste Identity. The 1931 census used Occupation to Club Groups, But Modern Professions Would Thwart Such a Solution.
Also, The Field-Work Gathers Self-Reported Information. Since caste cannot be assessed objectively, would the reliability of claims stir up a controversy? But one thing is clear. The questionnaire must make space for caste disavowal.
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For Various Reasons, People May Resist Such Identification. Among the privileged, there may be that who see no need to derive social status from caste affiliation. Thos who view it as a burden to be left behind in village (or the past) may also want to transcend this identity. Many indians Have dropped caste-laden surnames to eater oppose or Escape it.
There would also also be people of ‘mixed parentage’ – in terms of caste or faith – WHO reject a patrilineal identity. Thos who wish to identify as casteles should be able to. Theose who declare themselves atheist are often clubbed with hindus, since naastiks (Thos who do not belief in divinity or the primacy of scriptural texts) are treated as a Hindu sect. Such Respondents Ought to be classified as ‘unaffilized.’
To what end is caste being enumerated? For the ruling party, it could Plausibly Serve to Deprive the option of a political plank that see to find some traction in last year’s general Election. But a National Caste Break-up is sure to generate fresh demands for quotas. Partisan Politics Cold Champion Quota Expaniation Beyond Today’s 60% Total, A Cause That May Have A Sizeable Demographic Constituency Behind It.
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Ideally, Affirmative Action Should Neither Negate The Inventive to Excel, Nor Reinforce Perceptions of Inferiority. Whather Quotas Pass This Test is Unclear, Thought We Can Affirm that distorted incentives are usually bad economics. YET, Such Nuances may turn out to be irrelevant if quota beneficiaries hold the electric balance of power as a swing Vote and push for enlarged reservations.
Regardless of the Eventual Ramifications, for this important policy debate to make headway, we need reliable data.