A caste census is not a silver bullet for social justice

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Context

The Government of India has proposed to include caste enumeration in the upcoming decennial Census, reigniting debates on the efficacy, intent, and utility of caste-based data in policymaking for social justice and welfare distribution.

Role and Merits of Caste Census

Empirical Basis for Policy: Caste census can offer data-backed insights into socio-economic conditions of OBCs, aiding targeted affirmative action and legitimising welfare programmes in courts.
Intra-OBC Stratification: Disaggregated data can identify Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) within OBCs and address intra-group disparities in representation and welfare.
Institutionalising Enumeration: In a socially diverse country, routine caste enumeration ensures regular monitoring of marginalised communities' progress.

Limitations and Institutional Concerns

Misplaced Policy Pivot: Elevating Census data as the central or sole basis for social justice policymaking misconstrues the Census’ factual role.
Overburdening the Census Machinery: Expecting political reform from a statistical institution politicises its neutral mandate, risking institutional integrity.
Historical Precedent of Policy without Data: Reforms like Mandal recommendations and EWS reservations were executed without exhaustive caste-based datasets, driven more by political resolve.

Existing Data and Political Inaction

Abundant Data Already Available: Surveys like SECC, NCRB, NFHS and the Bihar caste survey already document caste-linked inequalities and crime rates.
Underrepresentation in Key Sectors: Despite evidence, SCs/STs/OBCs remain underrepresented in private corporate sectors, media, judiciary, and elite education.
Policy Vacuum and Lack of Will: No significant central policy reform has followed existing caste data; social justice is stalled by absence of political will, not information scarcity.

Practice Question

Q. Critically evaluate the role of caste-based census in ensuring social justice. Can empirical data substitute political will in addressing historical disadvantages?

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