Role of Ethnic Statistics in Indian Anti-Discrimination Policies

Abstract

This article focuses on an aspect of discrimination peculiar to India, caste-based discrimination, using the debate on caste-based census to illustrate the relationship between affirmative action policy and statistics. We begin by describing how discriminatory practices are set within the history of power relations between caste-groups; and the development of India’s anti-discrimination policy through caste-based reservation and the quota system. The interface of statistics and anti-discrimination policy is analyzed against this background using caste-based census as illustrative. While Indian census has a long history, comprehensive caste-census was undertaken first in 2011. Being relatively new, this allows us to study the political, socio-economic and practical issues such a statistical exercise throws up in social policy. Many nations are characterized by social inequalities but in India these inequalities were highly structured in the caste-system. Affirmative action in India takes the form of positive discrimination operationalised through reservations, as against non-discrimination of western democracies. However redistribution is unevenly spread and timely data is scarce. The key motivation behind caste-counting was to identify which castes are backward or improved their socio-economic status. Debates surrounding the current exercise illustrate the politics of caste. Due to its socio-economic and political consequences, it elicits intense discussions in the media and political parties. Major political parties affirm the need for caste-enumeration. Critics express anxiety about heightening divisiveness with vested interests making political capital of caste loyalties. The socio-political and ideological criticality of the census is not to be found in academic discussions; rather it is traceable more accurately in people’s reactions. During the colonial census various ambitious castes quickly perceived chances of raising their status. The contours of caste-politics are refashioned and renegotiated in response to the current census just as in the British attempt. The outpouring of caste-based demands, gatherings and statements shows caste being politicized and animated by head-counts. The fact that notionally rigid categories can be renegotiated to secure political influence reminds us that caste has always been pliable to political influence. For now it provides multiple organizations a powerful means of mobilizing support and an emotional card to play. Central to these machinations is the fact that the survey is perceived as more than a collection of numbers; and as a means of classifying and categorizing the social universe into groups entitled or not entitled to certain benefits. Incorporating caste as an enumerative criterion is likely to have major social ramifications. In a country living with the reality of caste and striving to offset disadvantages based on social hierarchy, holding a caste-census has wide appeal. The new data should enabling new policy criteria for recognizing intra-and inter-group socio-economic inequalities and discharging social-justice commitments. Caste-enumeration is undertaken with Below Poverty Line census so there is simultaneous mapping of the economic, caste, and religious backgrounds. The strongest point for caste-census was that it would help devise evidence-based social policy. The census raises procedural and practical issues. The first is data availability. Enumerative methodology requires consideration. Even more scientifically challenging is integrating the headcount with the socio-economic profile and deriving a caste’s state of backwardness. It was concluded that the Census Commission of India was equipped to handle such procedural and methodological requirements. The stand that caste-consciousness is best obliterated over time by neglect would be tenable but for the resurgence of quota-consciousness. People are familiar with categories like scheduled, backward and general; the census will just be a more factual version of information they are accustomed to providing. Aside from yielding a database, knowing caste-shares will enable a fair operation of the reservation. For now, the caste-census is already a reality. It requires a vigilant watch to see its repercussions on the fabric of Indian society.