Editor,
Census data of any country is integral to policy formulation. The Central Government is planning the census exercise next year and is scheduled to complete the process by 2026. While the modalities of the exercise including caste inclusion are still being worked out , the outcome will be followed by delimitation of constituencies of the Lok Sabha and their reservation for women.
Census enumeration was carried out by all governments uninterrupted since 1872 but was thrown off schedule by the pandemic in 2020.Since then the delay in resumption of the census operations is being criticised by political parties and public policy experts. The issue of including caste enumeration for which the last caste census was held in 1931 has also generated political heat.
Out of 233 nations (including those not recognised by the United Nations), only 44 have failed to conduct a census since the pandemic. India finds itself in the company of Nigeria, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Ukraine. Indian census is considered one of the hallmarks of its administrative success, along with the conduct of free and fair elections
A census is the need of the hour. Without it the administrative state operates in a vacuum and with outdated assumptions, harming the livelihoods of 140 crore Indians. The inclusion of caste still remains contentious but most political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, have come around to accepting the criticality of caste as a marker for affirmative action. The last time India conducted a comprehensive caste census was in 1931. Since then, our society has undergone seismic shifts economically, socially and politically. Yet, the data we rely on to make crucial policy decisions is outdated and incomplete
The absence of a census jeopardises India’s long-term growth prospects, weakens the delivery of quality public goods and services and undermines the credibility of its institutions. Worse, it serves as a tool of exclusion for marginalised groups, women and the poor.
For a nation as diverse and complex as India, accurate demographic data on age distribution, literacy levels, poverty rates, and household access to amenities such as electricity, water, healthcare, and education are indispensable. This data sheds light on unaddressed infrastructure gaps and economic conditions, enabling targeted programmes and progress measurement. Without such data, plans to bridge inequalities and drive development remain incomplete. Additionally, census is crucial for understanding India’s marginalised communities. With specific data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the government can monitor and improve affirmative action efforts. Nevertheless, the question of a comprehensive caste census persists, especially with calls from opposition parties to include Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Such data is vital for examining the equitable distribution of reservation benefits among OBC groups, ensuring that smaller, disadvantaged communities are not overshadowed by dominant castes.
Fears exist that caste census may deepen social divisions. Nonetheless, caste remains a central element in both politics and administration. By facing this reality through transparent data collection, India can address disparities rather than sidestepping the issue. Though the last caste census was conducted in the 1930s, its insights into socio-economic stratification still resonate. A new caste census could be pivotal for advancing equality within communities and government programs.
There are additional concerns about how updated census data might impact political representation. The southern states that adopted family planning worry about losing seats in Parliament if constituency boundaries are redrawn based on the new population data. Meanwhile, states like Bihar and UP, where birth rates remain high, could gain parliamentary influence. As this scenario unfolds, Article 82 of the Constitution, which safeguards states’ interests, may require reinforcement to protect regions that prioritised population control. Ultimately, the census is essential for measuring social and economic progress. Its findings, including caste data, are crucial to building an inclusive future where policy aligns with the actual needs of all citizens.
It is expected from the government that opinions of opposition parties should be taken before the start of the census otherwise the very purpose of conducting the census will be jeopardised and if there is difference of opinion the same should be settled amicably.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email
We are all siblings
Editor,
Bhai Phota will be celebrated in West Bengal on November 3. It will also be celebrated in other states by different names such as Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhai Bij, Bhai Tika, Bhatru Dwitiya, and Bhatri Dwitiya. Legend has it that the god of death, Yama, visited his sister, Yamuna, on the second lunar day of Sukla Paksha. After Yamuna welcomed him with a tilak, Yama declared that any brother who received a tilak on this day would be blessed with a long life.
These are all about a legend and an occasion in which a sister wishes her brother a long life. But I know one thing. I would have died young if I did not have a sister who risked her own life to save her brother’s.
I have two siblings, a brother and sister, whom I call Didi. It is because of her loving heart that I am still alive today. I vividly remember that day when she did a spiderman-like act to save me by throwing herself deliberately into a deadly danger. I was a small child then. Didi was also a small girl. She is only six years older than me. One day, I went out with Didi outside our house. She was engaged in conversation with another small girl of her age, and I stood nearby.
Suddenly, a furious looking big bull started running after me. There were men nearby who raised an alarm, but they did not dare to come in front of the bull to save me. Didi came rushing and just snatched me out by the skin of her teeth. She could not pick me up properly but somehow managed to drag me out to safety.
While my sister saved my life in my childhood, another sister helped me to recover from the Delta variant of Covid-19. She used to make a phone call every day during the period of my illness and assured me of her daily prayers for my recovery. Interestingly, we never met, and I could never meet her in my life, as she is no more. But her memory will live on in this brother and her students. Her whole life was dedicated to teaching.
She was a Goan Christian, and I am a Bengali Hindu. We do not have any blood relation. Therefore, our sister-brother relation has crossed the hurdles of region, religion, and blood relation. But it has its roots in the human bonding that lies in our genome.
It reiterated the scientific discovery that says all living human beings have originated from one woman. Research has shown that fragments of the mitochondrial genome carried by all humans alive today can be traced to a single woman ancestor living an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. This woman, known as “Mitochondrial Eve,” lived in Africa.
My Goan sister and I, irrespective of our differences in religion, caste, state, and gender, carry the same genome of that mother. This is a scientific truth, not man-made divisions. We must not let religious and caste hatred cast a spell on the truth that all human beings are siblings.
The discovery of the truth of our genome bonds enhances the significance of Bhai Phota. It has made it a candidate for an international celebration between brothers and sisters across different communities and countries. We should now say on this day – brothers and sisters of the world, unite! Bhai Phota is a day for me to express my gratitude to my Rita didi and Thecla sis.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata