The Centre is planning to undertake another socio-economic caste census (SECC) following the conclusion of the decennial Census 2021, an exercise that will also cover OBCs — a growing demand from the political class.
In 2011, the then UPA government had conducted an SECC, which successfully fused the data collected on the social-economic status of rural households with their caste identities.
Sources in the know-how of developments claim that there is a renewed interest in repeating the exercise since the 2011 data is too old. Notably, several panels and committees pertaining to rural development have also suggested that a survey be conducted afresh to fill the gaps in the data that may have crept in since the last exercise.
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The SECC will, however, need to consider the 2021 census as the base for conducting the survey. Unfortunately, the 2021 census has already been delayed by more than a year and a half due to the ongoing pandemic. This means, even if a fresh survey is ordered by the government, completing it will be a long-term exercise.
With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls approaching, political parties are getting more vocal in their demand for an OBC head count with each passing day. However, there is also the possibility that the data on backward classes, once released, shall be used by Mandal outfits to demand a hike in the 27 percent quota granted to OBCs. A section of observers also feels that the OBC population is likely to be at the higher end, probably beyond the 42 percent mark, and thus the data will provide stakeholders the arsenal needed to demand the removal of the 50 percent cap imposed on reservations for backward classes.
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