Socio-Economic and Caste Census

Identifying, analysing, interpreting, and understanding the population characteristics, access of the people, and those information to which people do not have access is essential for the social analysts as well as for the policymakers and government.

In this context, the census of India is the most important type that collects and analyses demographic and socio economic information of the Indian population. Socio-Economic and caste census and census are not just data collection efforts but also a technique of governance to make use of the collected data. But these socio-economic and caste census data are not quite enough to understand this complex society.

In India, the socio-economic and caste census (SECC) was conducted in 2011. First, let’s understand census and socio-economic and caste census and what they mean.

Census:

• In India, the colonial exercise of 1881 is the origin of the census.

• The census has been used by various users like the government, policymakers and others to portray Indian population resource access, social changes, and more.

• The census collects full information regarding a particular individual and their personal details like education, assets and more.

• WW.M.Yeats, who was the census commissioner of India during the 1941 census said that the census is a large, immensely powerful tool, but it is a dull instrument which is not suitable for specialised inquiry.

SECC- socio-economic and caste census:

• For the first time during 1931 socio-economic and caste census was conducted.

• These socio economic and caste census are conducted by the registrar general of India.

• This socio-economic caste census has come up with various caste, sub-caste categories and various surnames like gotras and clans during the survey. The fields are consolidated by the states.

• Socio-economic and caste census are mainly conducted keeping in mind every rural and urban Indian family to gather information or data about one’s caste and religion.

• Socio-Economic and caste census are gathered using various range of indicators like permutation combination and deprivation so that the central and state government authority can find economic status and define a poor and deprived person.

• Both the military and paramilitary are not considered in the socio-economic and caste census (SECC).

• This also gathers information regarding specific caste names and every individual so as to find which group are economically worse off and better off.

• It has a capacity to allow a better view of inequalities.

Difference between SECC and census:

• SECC is a key to find support for state benefits while the census makes a picture of the Indian population.
• Data provided by every individual under SECC is open to all government departments while information in the census is kept confidential.

Results of caste census:

• As SECC has the inflammatory component that social and political related issues continue to exist.
• SECC solidifies the individual identities.
• Due to misuse of these SECC data, a countable amount of its data is kept unreleased.

Utilisation of current data:

• Benefits of SECC can be realised when linking the data with other large data bases.
• For example, if the national sample survey is linked with caste census, where maternal health, land information and assets of individuals exist, the data becomes more significant.

Digital substitute:

• Atanu Biswas, a status station prefers or suggests digital methods that are more reliable and cost-effective.
• However, it has a great complexity to be sure of encryption of data and errors of sinking the data.

SECC published during 2014:

• The socio-economic and caste census report of 2014 which was conducted by the registrar general of government shows 46,73,034 fields of caste existence. It shows various sub-castes and various categories like gotras and clans.
• During November 2014, this was sent to States for correction and during July 2015 8 crore errors were found approximately and 6 crore errors were rectified by the states and union territories still 1.45 crore errors continue to exist.

SECC during 2011:

• Socio-economic and caste census of 2011 was conducted after a discussion in both the parliaments of 2010. And after the approval of Manmohan Singh government, SECC of 2011 was conducted.
• Data of social economic and caste census of 2011 was collected from all the states and union territories of India. The first finding regarding the 2011 census was revealed by finance minister Arun Jaitley in July 2015.
• The unique fact about SECC of 2011 was that about 640 districts’ paperless electronic data was collected.

SECC report published during 2011:

• Around 24.49 crore households live in India. Among them, around 17.97 crore live in villages where 10.74 crore households are considered to be deprived.
• And 5.34 crore households who live in rural areas are majorly landless and or manual income generators.
• In rural areas, 64% of households are illiterate and have not completed more than 5th that is have not passed or gone about primary schooling.
• Around 60% of rural households that is 60% of 17.91 crore people are under deprived category or poor.
• Around 4.6% of people in India pay income tax.
• In rural areas around 14% of people are employed either in government or private entities.
• More than 35% of urban households are qualified people but are under the deprived category or for who are jobless.
•  Out of 121.08 crore households 44.72 households are illiterate.

Conclusion:

Socio-economic and caste census is a better exercise than the census to portray the population’s data. The very need of the SECC is its proper utilisation and management. The consistent and continuous management of this SECC would channelise a way to better analysis of future plans and policies.

Though authorities of census analyse and arrange the documents in order transparently, it requires a closer and consistent engagement in the functions and changes of the senses of secc. As academics and other stakes change continuously the proper and regular engagement wood fetch better and effective datas.