Need of OBC survey in CG

• To gather genuine and measurable statistics on social and economic status of OBC communities.
• The survey will be used to determine the lapses in education, employment, and government representation.

Implementation of OBC survey in CG

• The OBC Welfare Commission has devised a special software which is used to enter and analyze data.
• The district data will be posted online to make it transparent and efficient.
• The survey has approximately 95-96 OBC castes, such as Rangrez, Dhobi, Nai, Teli, Lohar, Sunar, Badhai, Bhoi, Kevat, and Ahir.

Community Engagement

• Seminars and workshops are being arranged with the representatives of the community so as to collect the field level of information accurately.
• There is training of local organizations and volunteers to help in the survey process.

Challenges of OBC Survey in CG

• Disagreements among some groups could be a barrier to collective participation due to political and organizational divisions.
• The Commission is concerned about the accuracy of data and their neutrality.

Government Approach

• There had been an OBC count under the previous Congress government by the Quantifiable Data Commission.
• The ongoing BJP regime has intensified the initiative by a more detailed and technological survey under the OBC Welfare Commission.

Background of OBC survey

• Thousands of years ago, caste was one of the key characteristics of Indian society that defines occupation, education, marriage, and social mobility.
• It also defines resource accessibility, opportunities and political representation.
• Nevertheless, no recent detailed information on socio-economic status of different castes is available.
• The final complete census by caste was done in 1931 during the British period.
• The only Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) that were listed separately in the Census of India since Independence were Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

About Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

• The OBCs, who are entitled to 27% in education and government employment, are not factored out in the national census.
• They are an eclectic and geographically diverse group of India.
• According to the estimates by the Mandal Commission (1980), OBCs were 52% of the Indian population (using secondary sources).
• Since that time, no recent data has been gathered that would check or improve on such an estimate.
• Different political parties, social organizations, and civil societies have been insisting on a caste-based census that will enable proper and evidence-based policymaking.

Objectives Pursued by a Caste Census

• Fairness in Distribution of Reservation Privileges
  • Determines the specific percentage of OBCs and sub-categories, which is to be fairly represented in the reservation policies.
• Conceptualizing Social Inequality
  • Illuminates on the level of deprivation, discrimination, and marginalization that SCs, STs, and OBCs experience.
• Informed Policy Design
  • Empowers selective and evidence-based welfare programs to the backward and underrepresented.
• Promoting Social Justice
  • Helps subvert caste hierarchies and the upper caste dominance in the socio-economic domains.
• Empowerment of Marginalized groups
  • Recognizes themselves, sense of pride and role in nation-building.

Significance of Caste Census

• Gives correct demographic information on which to plan policy and allocate resources fairly.
• Impacts on political representation – can result in a change of reserved seats in favour of SCs and STs.
• Determines political activism and coalition according to caste facts.
• Enhances affirmative action by creating benefits attainable in the worst-off section of OBCs and other groups.
• Helps to realize inclusive growth and governance equality.

Challenges and Concerns

• Definitional Ambiguity
  • The inability to categorize the members of this or that caste/sub-caste, different by states and regions.
• Data Fidelity and Data Manipulation
  • There is the risk of false reporting or hiding caste identity in favor of any individual or political benefit.
• Privacy and Confidentiality
  • Distribution between transparency and individual right of privacy as well as prevention of tensions in society.
• Political and Social Backlash
  • Potential opposition of higher caste formations doubting the intent and result of such enumeration.
• Ethical Concerns
  • Danger of strengthening caste differences or stereotypes through re- validation of birth- based identities.
• Administrative Challenges
  • It takes a lot of logistical planning, trained personnel and political agreement to make it reliable.

Conclusion

The OBC Mega Survey is an important initiative towards social justice that is more data-driven in Chhattisgarh. It will enhance evidence based policymaking of backward class welfare. The survey will be able to provide a fair representation and inclusion of the marginalized community by mapping socio-economic realities. This project will be a demonstration to other states on good and transparent governance that is technology-driven.