Andhra Pradesh Government to Commence Census of Backward Population
Shyamlal Yadav, the Backward Welfare Minister of Andhra Pradesh, announced on Wednesday that the state government will initiate a census of the backward population within a week from November 15. The aim of the census is to provide accurate data on backward classes in the state, enabling the government to better serve their needs.
C Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, the Chief Minister, emphasized that many backward classes in the state are unaware of their numerical strength. This lack of information hinders effective distribution of reservation benefits, which are meant to ensure equity and social integration for marginalized communities.
The decision to conduct a backward population census follows the release of the Jatiwari census results in Bihar earlier this month. The release of these results has sparked discussions in other states, who are considering similar surveys as the country enters a new election cycle.
Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are communities and castes that are socio-economically disadvantaged but not categorized as Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST). The backwardness of these groups is largely attributed to their caste status, which has historically led to social and educational disadvantages.
Affirmative action for OBCs is mandated by Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) of the Indian Constitution, which allow for special provisions and reservation in government jobs and education for socially and educationally backward citizens.
Within the OBCs, there are various sub-categories based on occupation and level of marginalization. The demand for reservation for “backward among OBCs” has intensified as there is a perception that a few “upper” OBCs have secured most of the reservation benefits introduced by the Mandal Commission recommendations 30 years ago.
In Bihar, the recent caste census identified 27% of the population as “Pichtha” (backward) and 36% as “attendant Pichtha” (most backward classes or EBCs). The Bihar government has implemented various reservations for OBCs, economically backward classes among OBCs, women, and poor sections of upper castes.
The OBC population has been categorized by two OBC Commissions. The first commission, headed by Kaka Kalelkar, prepared a list of 2,399 backward castes or communities and recommended varying percentages of reservation. However, this report was never debated in Parliament and was not implemented.
The second commission, known as the Mandal Commission, classified 3,743 castes and communities as OBCs, estimating their population at 52%. The commission recommended a 27% reservation in government jobs and admissions to educational institutions. The implementation of the Mandal recommendations has faced challenges, particularly regarding the absence of sub-categories within the reservation quota.
Different states have their own systems of subdividing OBC groups for reservation purposes. For example, Andhra Pradesh has five sub-categories, Telangana follows a similar pattern, and Karnataka has five sub-castes. These subdivisions are determined by each state government’s criteria.
The decision by the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct a census of the backward population reflects a commitment to ensuring accurate and up-to-date data on OBCs in the state. This information will facilitate better planning and allocation of resources to address the needs of these communities, ultimately promoting social equity and inclusion.