‘Linguistic, cultural markers can solve caste enumeration riddle’, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Scholar G.N. Devy suggests using linguistic and cultural markers for accurate caste enumeration in the upcoming 2026-2027 Census.
• The proposed method involves analyzing language, ancestry, lifestyle, and kinship post-Census to create a comprehensive caste list.
• Devy emphasizes the importance of including Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-nomadic Tribes (DNT) in the Census.
• The Union government plans to conduct the next Census in 2026 and 2027.

Detailed Insights:

• G.N. Devy advocates for an open field in the Census form for caste entry, followed by layered scrutiny, similar to language surveys.
• This approach aims to address issues like duplication and variations in caste names, as seen in the 2011 Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which returned over 46 lakh caste names.
• Post-Census analysis would involve linguistic analysis, identifying shared languages, ancestry, and kinship bonds to consolidate caste data.
• Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) can play a crucial role in verifying community classifications and providing reference points like the ‘People of India’ project.
• Explicitly counting DNT communities in the Census is crucial to avoid alienating over 10 crore people and exacerbating existing social issues.
• The methodology for caste enumeration has not yet been announced by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Caste Enumeration: The process of counting and categorizing the population based on their caste identity.
• Denotified Tribes (DNT): Communities formerly classified as "criminal" under the colonial-era Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.
• Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC): A survey conducted in 2011 to gather information about the socio-economic status and caste of households in India.