OBC commission member Bajaj backs caste census
NEW DELHI: At least one of the members of the government’s commission for sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes or OBCS has supported a caste census, demand for which has gained momentum with sections of the ruling party, its allies such as the Janata Dal (United), and the Opposition all pushing for one.
JK Bajaj, member of the commission which was appointed by the President in 2017 to look at the distribution of the benefits of reservation and suggest changes said that while the debate on a caste survey is focused on the political fallout , there are clear administrative benefits that could help the government improve the delivery of its social welfare schemes.
“Census does not only count bare numbers, it also gives a detailed socio-economic profile of different groups of people. It tells us about their literacy rates and the number of graduates or number of professionals, etc., among them. It tells us about their gender ratios and fertility rates; about their work participation rates; about how many of them are cultivators and how many are agricultural labourers. It even tells us about the kind of houses they live in and the geographical distribution of particular groups,’’ said Bajaj.
The last time there was a full caste census was in 1931 but in recent weeks, demand for one has only gotten louder with the Bhartiya Janata Party’s own leaders such as Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi justifying the need for one. The party itself has not explicitly taken a stand on the issue, given its sensitivity and the possibility that it could trigger a backlash, both from other backward classes that lose out on benefits if the reservation formula is redefined following a caste census, and from upper castes that fear the survey could be a precursor to breaching the 50% limit for reservations.
The support for the survey was evident in the composition of the delegation from Bihar that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought a survey. It included Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, leader of the Opposition in Bihar Tejaswi yadav, and representatives of eight other parties. Modi heard all the leaders and the government is expected to take a call on a survey soon. The Apna Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Republican Party of India- Athawale, all BJP allies, also support a survey. As do the YSR Congress and the Biju Janata Dal, considered friendly parties, and almost the entire Opposition.
Not everyone is convinced of the need for such a census, though. Former health secretary Sujatha Rao tweeted: “How regressive can we get? For governments there should only be two castes -- the rich and the poor. Don’t understand what that backward Bihar wants a caste census instead on Industries education and health. What a vision.’’
THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A FULL CASTE CENSUS WAS IN 1931, BUT IN RECENT WEEKS, THE DEMAND HAS GROWN LOUDER