With a view to ensuring caste-based enumeration, the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission has suggested a procedural change in filling up the questionnaire prepared for the Census of 2011–Household Schedule.
In his opinion submitted to the State government on April 20 [which was released to the media on Saturday], Chairman of the Commission Justice M.S. Janarthanam stated that “for the systematic enumeration of castes, there is no need at all to amend or alter or add anything new to the questionnaire.” What was required to be done was to furnish the name of the caste in respect of “Others,” namely, Other Backward Classes, in the answer to question nos. 7 (i) and 7 (ii) under the column no. 8 and 9 of the questionnaire. [The questionnaire has a provision for enumerating Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes].
If this was done, the systematic enumeration of castes of “Others”, viz., OBCs and SC/STs would be complete and effective.
The Commission called for providing adequate training to enumerators in this regard. This could be done without any involvement of special or extra expenditure.
The indicators of other criteria for the determination of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, such as castes/classes regarded as socially backward, those mainly depending on manual labour for livelihood and those having student dropout in the age group of 7 to 15 years could be ascertained from the data available with the Statistics department of the respective States.
Mr. Justice Janarthanam said caste enumeration, carried out as suggested by him, would be authentic and it would enable the government to determine the question of a particular community or caste falling within the ambit of BC or MBC (Most Backward Classes) or otherwise, satisfying the members of such castes or communities demanding reconsideration of their status – BC, MBC or otherwise.
He urged the State government to seek the concurrence of the Union government for the proposed procedural changes which, in his opinion, may not pose any problem. He recalled the Commission's recommendation given in May 2007 to the State government, calling for a survey on socio-economic and educational conditions of the people.
The State government, in its press release, mentioned that it was making public the opinion of the Commission Chairman as this would be of use to the public and political parties under the present circumstances.
History of OBC Reservation
Under Article 340 of the Indian constitution it is obligatory for the government to promote the welfare of the Other Backward Classes.
The first Backward Classes Commission headed by Shri kaka kalelkar in 1953, and Mandal Commission headed by Shri B.P.Mandal in 1980 has given many useful recommendations for the welfare of Other Backward Classes. The population of OBC’s which includes Hindus and Non-Hindus was around 52% of the total population according to the commission.
27% of reservation was recommended owing to legal constraints that the total quantum of reservation should not exceed 50%.
One of the most important recommendations is that all private sector undertakings which have received financial assistance from the government in one form or another should be obliged to recruit personnel on the reservation basis. But, even after 2 decades we are unable to get it inspite of our continuous efforts.
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One needs to understand the psychology of opposition of reservation to OBC’s.
When the jobs are nowhere and everything is gone private, then why are the upper castes angry with the reservation for Backward Communities?
The fact is that seats for dalits were rarely fulfilled and we have seen huge backlog. There has been no protest. It was easier to curtail the protest of the dalits because of their numbers and social background.
Now the reservation for backward communities being a reality, the powerful backward communities will hit and break the bone of upper castes. That is the fear of this community. They know that there are enough students from these communities who will join great institutes of technology and management.
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To be strong in the present scenario, it is more important to show our strength and unity of OBC’s. AIOBC association work towards social justice. AIOBC is giving hand and helping us in this regard.
The issue of under-representation of the socio-economically deprived, discriminated backward caste and classes in the spheres of education, employment, administration and commerce is burning at this stage. I appeal all the member associations to work hard towards the success of the reservation policies.
Let us truly reform our society and work for a truly democratic
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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