WHAT IS CENSUS?

A census is the procedure of systematically enumerating, and acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It helps in describing and understanding the population of a society and what people have access to, and what they are excluded from, is important not only for social scientists but also for policy practitioners and the government.

In this regard, Census of India, one of the largest exercises of its kind, enumerates and collects demographic and socio economic information on the Indian population.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CENSUS 

• According to ‘Rig Veda’, population count was maintained during 800-600 BC.
• Further Kautilya’s Arthasastra (written around 321-296 BC) states Census taking as a measure of State policy for the purpose of taxation.
• During the regime of Mughal king Akbar, the administrative report ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ included comprehensive data on population, industry, wealth and many other characteristics.
• In India, the first Census was conducted in 1872 (non-synchronously in different parts) during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo. While the first complete synchronous Census was conducted in 1881.
• In present times this exercise is conducted every 10 years. The Census-2021 is the 16th such exercise since inception and 8th since independence.

CENSUS Vs SOCIO-ECONOMIC CASTE CENSUS (SECC)

• Following debate over the full-scale caste census, the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 2011.
• The SECC, which collected the first figures on caste in Census operations since 1931, is the largest exercise of the enumeration of caste.
• This was a distinct exercise from the Census of 2011.

DIFFERENCE IN THEIR PURPOSES

• Since the Census falls under the Census Act of 1948, all data are considered confidential, whereas the SECC data is open for use by Government departments to grant and/or restrict benefits to households.
• Thus, the Census provides a portrait of the Indian population, while the SECC is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support.

IMPORTANCE OF CENSUS

• It gathers knowledge about the demographic dividend of the nation which is vital for many purposes. Various surveys like health survey, education survey, agriculture survey, etc. are based on this comprehensive data.
• Data collected through census is significant for a country’s evidence-based decision making.
• It  boosts coherence policy-making and scientific planning, resulting in optimisation of resources.
• It helps in effective targeting and better delivery of government programmes to the most downtrodden sections of the society.
• Census data is also used as a delimitation exercise.
• The Finance Commission gives grants to the states on the basis of population figures available from the Census data.

CRITICISM OF CENSUS

• Despite being a technique of governance, it is criticised for not being useful enough for a detailed and comprehensive understanding of a complex society.
• There is a lack of depth in Census where some issues are concern for eg. The discussion around caste and its enumeration have been controversial.
• Census have the issue related to the time lag between each Census, and the delay in the release of data.
• There is a growing demand for a full-scale caste census to capture contemporary Indian society and to understand and remedy inequalities.
• While others believe that this large administrative exercise of capturing caste and its complexities is not only difficult, but also socially untenable.
• There have been concerns that counting caste may help solidify or harden identities, or that caste may be context-specific, and thus difficult to measure.
• The other concern is whether an institution such as caste can even be captured completely by the Census.

WAY FORWARD

• What is needed is a discussion on the caste data that already exists, how it has been used and understood by the government.
• Linking and syncing aggregated Census data to other large datasets such as the National Sample Surveys or the National Family Health Surveys that cover issues that the Census exercises do not, such as maternal health, would be significant for a more comprehensive analysis.
• This linking of the Census with the National Sample Survey data has been suggested in the past by scholars such as Mamta Murthi and colleagues.
• Census operations across the world are going through significant changes, employing methods that are precise, faster and cost effective, involving coordination between different data sources.
• However, care must be taken to ensure that digital alternatives and linking of data sources involving Census operations are inclusive and non-discriminatory, especially given the sensitive nature of the data being collected.
• Delay in the release of data needs to be reduced.
• Need for closer and continuous engagement between functionaries of the Census and SECC, along with academics and other stakeholders concerned.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-new-framework-around-caste-and-the-census/article33638335.ece