Too Much Information

In a deeply disturbing story, picked up on social media by those opposed to the BJP and Hindutva politics more generally, schoolchildren in Haryana are apparently being required to fill out admission forms that ask if their parents work in “unclean” occupations. Other intrusive questions include listing Aadhaar numbers for children and their parents, bank account numbers and family incomes. A Haryana BJP spokesman claimed the information was necessary to get educational help and medical attention to communities that need them. Others will wonder about the use of “unclean” and the extent of the details sought.