Re-Introduction of Caste-Based Census Is a Solution for Social Justice or a New Idea of Polarisation

Author: Divya Kumari, National law University Tripura

In the upcoming census, where there is a reintroduction of caste-based census, different political parties have demanded for Caste-based census. They have argued that a caste-based survey is beneficial for those who are socially backward classes who have suffered long-term historical subjugation by the upper classes. They emphasized that Caste-based survey to provide equitable resources to the classes who have suffered marginalization in the society which seems non-negotiable argument to bring justice in the society to conduct Caste-based survey in country, but critics fears that cast based survey may leads to more negative consequences than providing positive consequences it may lead to polarization in the society and may impact social fabric of the country. In this article, we will address the question whether the caste- based census will be able to address the challenge faced by the communities which are socially backward classes in a long period. It is only a new way for political parties to use as a tool to strengthen the grip of caste-based vote bank politics.

Keywords 

Caste-based survey, marginalization, subjection, resources, society, justice, polarization, social fabric, vote bank politics.

 India, which represents the world's largest population which has a legacy of being the largest democratic country in the world, has to conduct the largest historical democratic survey. It is the largest administrative exercise undertaken in the world, which is known as census. It is a process of collecting, analysing,demographic data of the country.

In the constitution of India, the word census is not mentioned directly; the power to conduct it is derived from Article 246,  which includes subject matter of law, division of power, and the article divides the Union list, State list, and Concurrent list; census falls under entry 69 of the Union list. The new changes this time are that the census will include caste data also, which is approved by the government of India.  The  Caste-based census comes under Article 15 and Article 16,  which guides policies for social equalities and the reintroduction to conducting caste based census. its not a new concept to the country earlier its was conducted in the years (1881-1931) during British India,  but after independence its has excluded from survey except for(SCs)and (ST).while the is various political party has demanded to reintroduce  Caste-based survey and the government of India approved it the need of caste based census is to identify sub-caste within the caste to identify weaker section within the sub-group to the make policy, to implement reservation t policies effectively. 

But there is concern arising due to caste based survey that will provide equitable justice to the society or will deepen the idea of the caste system in the country, which will fragment the society or it will address the real issues to uplift the lower strata of society. 

The First caste-based census was conducted in the year of 1871, which included caste classification in the regime of British India. It aims to control administrative control, and social mapping, taxation, and it also helps the Britishers to understand the traditional structure within Indian society to govern effectively. The last caste survey was conducted by the caste census commissioner ( J.H.Hutton) in 1931.

 There are various contexts related to caste based surveys. There are mentions of caste survey in Rajasthan Marwar kingdom was conducted later, followed by a British officer. While various scholars believed that caste based census conducted by them deepened social division, which helped the British government to prevent the unified resistance against the government's colonial rule. So basically, it was a divide and rule policy by the government. By knowing their caste, it helps to identify which caste has traditionally held land or wealth by providing structural data that identifies land owning classes that helps streamline tax systems and land revenue policies.  Census bring rigidity to class system people identify by their caste which brings the division between classes,  The result of the caste survey impacted the country which can be seen by even current time person identify by their caste and caste gives them whole different identity which plays main role in there to identify as caste which brings class division this shows that class-identity politics is pillar for class politics which bring division between social structure.

Impact of caste-based survey still on Indian politics has deepened caste politics identity within the country framework, which has ruined India's political dimension.

The reintroduction of this caste-based census to update outdated data, the last full caste census was conducted in the year 1931.  Since then, India has only collected SCs and STs, not other backward or general caste data, so parties argue that policies based on 90 years of data are outdated, which is why they have demanded caste-based census to ensure fair representation.  Parties like (RJD, SP, DMK) have emphasized over caste-based surveys that ensure fair distribution of resources, government jobs, educational quotas, and welfare schemes after getting proper data. Leaders want to remove the 50% cap on reservations and want to adjust quotas based on actual representation.

The reintroduction of caste-based surveys has initiated has sparked an intense reason of debate,   because it may increase political polarization reason is clear country already has had history of caste-based differences, where the inter caste marriage is still unacceptable in society the caste-system so much deeply rooted in society that’s still that communities have difference within the society In the state like Bihar,  where name of the villages also known by the caste of people residing in it.  Villages known by their caste like in Bihar, the upper caste villager walls can't be near or by side of lower caste communities  have  we called (tola)  in  our language where,  there is structure  of villages like  upper caste high caste dominating communities reside center of the village means under the safety net if any mishaps happen like invader,  attacks the people residing in the village the front parts are mostly comes from lower castes communities will suffer first so that’s differences from the early times, before the independence, its rooted within the belief of the people that caste system seen as part as their lives like they relates there religious sentiments, so that its in there mindset that   upper caste lower caste cant be unseen part of there daily lives, the question arises after government introduction to reintroduce caste based census will it minimize the gaps between the  communities or increase differences within the communities class system cant be ignored by the government which still prevail after so many years of Independence, will caste based ,will able to address encounter  the social stigma that sucked the society long term in the history.

There may be an increase in the social hierarchy of the classes because the census emphasizes caste; the whole survey would bring differences among the classes.  It somehow increases polarization and promotes social division among the classes. Caste-based surveys risk re-solidifying the risk of caste-based identities, where we want a society where no class system, paradoxically, will increase the differences.

The main issue is that caste based surveys may be used by parties as a toolkit to manipulate voters through identity politics in the name of justice for socially marginalized communities. They may use data for selfish motives to ignite more caste rigidity within the society,  so the division and polarization are the main issues to be concerned about after the caste census. Polarization within society will shift debates from issues like jobs and education,  and inflation to identity, allowing parties to avoid real issues and their accountability.

Caste-based mathematics among the parties leads to changes in the distribution of tickets because it provides detailed data on the numerical strength of various caste groups in each constituency. Political parties may use this data to calculate what is termed as caste arithmetic. This will may cause unethical gain of political parties to gain vote bank, for example if constituency A has 73% have voter from particular caste parties may use this data and there is huge chance to gain political gain party will field candidates from that particular caste communities, assuming that people will vote to that caste which represent their communities. This will lead to the subjugation of communities that are underrepresented, and may not give a ticket to the more deserving candidates, because the party will focus its interests on winning the election. Because of this, the quality of the governance will decrease.  Caste-aligned candidates are elected. The effects of the caste-based survey. Youth and new leaders are demotivated, especially those who are meritorious. They are known for activism rather than identity politics;  they will avoid entering politics because parties will not recognize their work, but it will capture the vote bank in politics.

Leadership positions of parties in state units, youth, women and district-levels committees are often filled according to the representation of caste in the state to get favor from the people like parties will calculate which communities should they give position this will also increase favoritism within the party overall we see the result after the clear data comes after the census the party will runs according to the caste and they will introduce policy in the favor of special communities or caste who is dominating in the nature its might bring ill affect to the country development because parties will avoid the need of development.

There is a term in Indian politics Token Candidates from marginalized communities to check caste boxes,  while real decision making will still be in the hands of elite classes so it shows surface level inclusion of the marginalized group but in depth there is structural exclusion in politics classes because they are not able to decide on their own. The result of this caste based vote bank politics will be obvious. The result is clear that political representation must be on a caste-based system where one class dominates others who are subaltern, because they will get representation over the other communities.

Another issue with the caste based survey is that it contains sensitive data like caste includes in the criteria of sensitive data so that country needs before collecting data to ensure data protection law to avoid misuse of someone sensitive data government can also restrict political access to sensitive data it will to protect citizens from discrimination or political targeting .

What we see in  the other countries is that they avoid class-based differences. Compared to the other democratic countries which avoid ethical and racial categorizing, ethnic profiling enumerates the risk of deepening the root of identity politics. While affirmative action exists globally, to address social upliftment.

A caste based survey inclusion in the upcoming census could bring both positive and negative changes,  as the earlier government has been using outdated caste data from the last caste survey of the country. A fresh caste survey is needed to update quotas, better data policy is needed to allocate the reservation policy fairly to address backwardness within the classes.   However, we cannot avoid the fact that the implementation of caste-based surveys may perpetuate class division within the society,  which causes high risks of social division, political misuse, and administrative chaos. Political parties will use data as a benefit for their vote bank. The risk of underrepresentation of communities will violate access to equality. The government policies will include favoritism,  which frames policies that are dominating in the representation,  so the access to equitable resources cannot be provided by a caste census.  Caste will become a permanent label, affecting job opportunities.

Data misuse there can be potential risk that absence of strong privacy law caste data may be used for discrimination, social profiling or political targeting another issues with the survey is the rises of demand sub reservation .this will widen the gaps between the classes rises in the reservation conflicts so the caste based survey if not handle properly it may rises the political misuse that will weaken social fabric of the country, deepening the class division promotes caste system within the social system, political parties will fuel difference and exploits caste data for vote bank politics, herby the policy maker will divert their attention from development to adopting vote bank politics favoring any particular classes Instead of focusing on caste in the census government should revamp the welfare system to identify and support citizens based on universal development, socio-economic development and targeted policies based on need,  not identity on a birth-based caste system.