Khalid Naveed, a social activist and President of Youth Welfare Mahabubnagar, supports the central government’s plan for a national caste census. He believes this move is essential for promoting social justice and equality in India.
For years, caste data collection has focused only on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other marginalized groups have not been adequately represented in policymaking.
Naveed highlights that a caste census will offer precise socio-economic data. This will help the government to better implement welfare schemes and reservations. Currently, many programs do not effectively reach the most disadvantaged due to overlapping issues like caste, gender, location, and poverty.
In 2023, Bihar released its caste census results, showing that OBCs and Extremely Backward Classes make up more than 63% of its population. This prompted states like Telangana to conduct similar surveys, pushing for a national caste census. The Central Government now supports this idea, marking a major policy change after 70 years.
Naveed mentioned the 1980 Mandal Commission, which supported OBC reservations but lacked current caste data. The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census was also never fully published, leading to criticism from experts and activists.
While some worry the census could increase caste divisions, Naveed argues that an open and accurate count will enhance fair representation. It will help adjust reservation policies and ensure that affirmative action benefits those who truly need it.
