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Caste based Census
An all-party meeting held in Bihar unanimously decided to start the caste-based census very soon. Those to be involved in the mega exercise will be given proper training and the report will be published.
The process of gathering, compiling, analysing, assessing, publishing, and disseminating statistical data about the population and its features is referred to as census.
The demographic, social, and economic features of the population are supplied as of a specific date (reference period).
Economic activity, literacy and education, housing and household amenities, urbanisation, fertility and mortality, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, language, religion, migration, disability, and many more socio-cultural and demographic data are all included in the census.
The first census in India was taken in 1872 by British Viceroy Lord Mayo, but the first complete census was held in 1881 by Lord Ripon.
The Census of India has been held every ten years since 1881.
In 2011, it was conducted for the 15th time.
Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India conducted the Indian Census.
Since 1951, all censuses have been conducted under the Census of India Act of 1948.
Under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution, the population census is a Union subject.
The Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) was conducted for the 2011 Census of India.
The SECC 2011 was conducted in all states and union territories of India.
SECC 2011 was also India's first paperless census, with the government conducting it in 640 districts using electronic devices.
The SECC data has been used by the Rural Development Ministry in programmes like MGNREGA, the National Food Security Act, and the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.
Since the Indian Census of 1931, the SECC 2011 was the first caste-based census.
- Identification of lowest Sections of Society: Those at the bottom of the social system are not only socially but also economically disadvantaged, so it is critical to identify them in order to secure their well-being.
- Promoting research: Independent research on who needs affirmative action and who doesn't will be aided by caste data.
- Better Policy formulation: A caste census, which will provide extensive data, will enable policymakers to design better policies and implementation plans, as well as a more reasonable discussion on sensitive matters.
- Upgradation of Socio-economic data: All of the commissions had to rely on data from the last caste census, which took place in 1931. As a result, the data must be updated.
- Accuracy of Data: The data will be harmed in terms of "completeness and accuracy," as caste data from the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is "unusable" for official purposes because it is inaccurate and deceptive.
- Division of Society: This has the potential to further polarise Indian society. According to the government, the total number of castes assessed in 1931 was 4,147, however the SECC 2021 estimates reveal that India has over 46 lakh castes.
- Hesitancy in revealing caste: Respondents may not be willing to reveal the caste, due to stigma associated with it.
- Misuse of data collected: Under the census statute of 1948, the data collected by the census is considered confidential. The personal data collected by SECC, on the other hand, is available for government departments to use. It renders the SECC data vulnerable to government use and abuse.