Caste-based census

Share print T+ It is unfortunate that the GoM has recommended the inclusion of caste in the census. The Constitution is committed to achieving a casteless society. But our politicians are clamouring for a caste-based census for their own selfish interests. There are millions of Indians desiring to live as dignified people. A caste-based census is no solution to the reservation issue. It will only end up dividing the nation on caste lines. AN. Kandasamy, Chennai Why are some politicians bent on a caste-based census? They want to consolidate their political power by polarising society, unmindful of the harm it will cause to the social fabric. All right-thinking people can only caution the government to exercise prudence on the issue. When there are numerous social issues crying for attention, it is disappointing to see the Centre buckling under the pressure of vested interests. A. Thirugnanasambantham, Coimbatore Post-OBC reservation, we find two types of caste system being practised. One in which the name of the caste is furnished for the purpose of claiming reservation and the other in which it is used in marriages and other rituals. The Census can only gather data on the basis of the information given for getting the benefit of reservation. What about the caste which people claim for social purposes? Easwar Raghunathan, Mumbai The proposed enumeration of caste in the census is nothing but another strategy to divide people. The Constitution stands for a united India, not for an India that is divided along castes and religions. I would like to give the example of my domestic help in this context. She belongs to the so-called upper' caste, and her family is in the grip of extreme poverty. She is the only source of income for her family of three and struggles to eke out a living. Will the castebased census help people like her? Navami Sreekumar,

Bangalore

Caste census
Share print T+ This refers to the report that a final decision on the modalities of including caste in the census would be taken by the Cabinet (Aug. 13). If caste is included in the census, society will be further polarised. Caste conflicts will increase. Caste-based associations and parties will tend to misuse the data for petty gains and for vote-bank politics. D.R. Sikander Singh, Patiala Our basic aim of forming a casteless society has been thwarted. Under pressure, the government has agreed to include caste in the census. Now, political parties which claim to represent hundreds of castes across the country will restart the process of sowing the seeds of hatred. K. Ramachandran, Tuticorin The report GoM approval for caste-based Census (Aug. 12) made frustrating reading. No civilised person asks another what his caste is. But now the government plans to ask every citizen the question: What is your caste? Are we going forward or backward? There are millions of people who eschewed caste and had inter-caste marriages with the aim of establishing a casteless society. There are conscientious objectors, members of progressive, social reform and human rights organisations who don't claim any caste. How is the question What is your caste? relevant to them? Count them too. Include the question: Do you have a caste? D.G. Rama Rau, Hyderabad The GoM's decision is welcome. India is a highly diversified society and stratified into numerous castes, tribes, religions, and cultures. Political parties choose their candidates on the basis of caste. Many of our policies are caste-based and there are growing demands from various groups for reservation. It is important for the government to know the actual headcount in different castes. Vivek R. Jadhavar, Osmanabad Keywords: caste census, National population register

THEASE ARE SOME LETTERS APPEARED AGAINST CASTE BASED CENSUS IN THE HINDU DAILY . THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF INFLUENCE IN THE GOVT POLICIES OF OUR NATIONAL ENGLISH MEDIA . RESPOND TO THIS TO THE letters@thehindu.co.in