Caste Survey Begins in Telangana, Third in India

Telangana becomes the third state to initiate a caste-based headcount, following Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. The Telangana government has initiated the process of a comprehensive household caste survey in the state aimed at targeted and equitable resource distribution among all communities.

Details

Purpose of the survey

• The caste survey aims to promote targeted and equitable resource distribution among all communities, ensuring justice for weaker sections like OBCs, SCs, STs, and other marginalized groups.

Government’s commitment

• The caste survey was a key promise made by the ruling Congress party during the assembly election campaign.

Chief Secretary orders

• Telangana’s Chief Secretary, Santhi Kumari, issued orders for a door-to-door survey to be completed within 60 days. The Planning Department will oversee the process as the nodal department.

Socio-economic opportunities

• The survey is intended to improve access to socio-economic, educational, employment, and political opportunities for backward classes and marginalized sections.

Sub-classification of SCs

• A separate order from the Telangana SC Development Department calls for the creation of a six-member commission to study the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs), focusing on equitable distribution of reservation benefits.

Empirical research

• The commission will conduct scientific studies to examine socio-economic, political, and educational backwardness among SC sub-groups, aiming to improve representation in public services and educational institutions.

Bihar’s precedent

• Telangana follows Bihar, which completed the first successful caste survey in independent India. 
• Bihar’s data showed OBCs forming 63.13%, SCs 19.65%, and STs 1.68% of the population.

Commission’s mandate

• The Telangana commission will submit its findings within 60 days, addressing how to effectively implement sub-classification within the SC community, based on the Supreme Court’s directive.

Andhra Pradesh’s initiative

• Earlier this year, Andhra Pradesh also launched a caste survey aimed at building a comprehensive database of its population based on caste.

Survey as a tool for welfare 

• Telangana’s caste survey is expected to guide future government programs aimed at reducing inequalities and ensuring equitable growth across all sections of society.

Significance of Caste Census

• To Address Social Inequality
• To Ensure Equitable Distribution of Resources
• To Monitor the Effectiveness of Affirmative Action Policies
• To Provide a Comprehensive Picture of Indian Society

What is Caste Census and Caste Survey?

Census

• Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data of all persons in a country at a specific period of time. 
• Census in India is conducted at regular intervals of 10 years.
• Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes.
• Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. Hence there have been demands for Socio-economic caste census to be conducted for 2021.

Caste Census

• Caste census or more precisely Socio Economic caste census was conducted for the first time in Independent India in 2011. 
• However the findings were never made public. 
• The last published data for all castes was done in the 1931 census.

Caste Survey

• Since only the Union govt has the power to conduct a census, several state governments like Bihar have been conducting socio economic caste surveys to ascertain the social and economic status of different castes for better policy making. 
• The latest released Bihar caste survey is the latest example of it.