Even critics of reservation should support census
Context:
Caste census is relevant and necessary for any well-designed policy to reduce social inequality.
The Need for Caste Census
- Prima Facie Condition: Caste is acknowledged as a societal issue, demanding investigation for eradication and equality.
- Multi-Dimensional Insight: A caste census provides a comprehensive socio-economic profile crucial for informed policymaking.
- Legal Imperative: The absence of caste-based data contradicts affirmative action, hindering effective review of reservation policies.
Feasibility and Potential Benefits
- Bihar's Example: Bihar's successful caste census demonstrates feasibility and challenges the perceived difficulty.
- Minimal Additional Cost: Integrating caste enumeration with the general census incurs a negligible cost, as Bihar exemplifies.
- Side Effects Consideration: While concerns about heightened caste consciousness exist, potential benefits outweigh limited side effects.
Concerns
- Multi-Dimensional Social Justice: Present caste census as part of a broader ideology, encompassing gender, class, and location considerations.
- Cross-Party Consensus: Seek bipartisan support to depoliticize the caste census issue for effective implementation.
- Addressing Caste Cleavages: Articulate the demand quietly, emphasizing benefits and mitigating potential side effects to ensure societal cohesion.