IGNOU Organizes Two-Day Seminar on Caste and the Census

The Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair (BRAC) on Social Change and Development, IGNOU, at the Convention Centre, has organized a two-day seminar on 'Caste and the Census'. The seminar is organized to focus on the fact, that a caste-less society has not become a reality in our country because of an unrealistic fear and self-interested argument that talking about caste increases casteism.
   
As per sources, the seminar, consisting of four sessions, focused on the history of the theme, the pros and cons of including and not including caste in the census, methods that can be used and have been used, which affect this social reality, etc. Also, the seminar talked about the census under colonialism, importance of accurate data on caste, deficiencies of existing data and problems of the plan proposed by the Government. It talked about the census under colonialism, importance of accurate data on caste, deficiencies of existing data and problems of the plan proposed by the Government.
 
Dr Gail Omvedt, Chair Professor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair on Social Change and Development, said that caste remains a pervasive reality in the Indian society, yet the Government has not gathered systematic data on this in the Census since independence. She said in order to formulate policies and programmes to move towards a caste-less society, information about its characteristics, changing forms, inter-caste marriages and the degree to which it may be lessening is necessary. She also added that, however, this has not been done since independence, out of an unrealistic fear and self-interested argument that talking about caste increases casteism.

Furthermore, she added that in fact, this primary response of the Indian elite that caste hardly exists, or is withering away, has handicapped us tremendously in dealing with the actual problem, which has not been solved till date. The Government has finally agreed to include an enumeration of caste, but has segregated this from the regular Census in a way which will not provide the required information. Because of this illusory move forward, the BRAC for Social Change and Development has decided to hold a seminar on Caste and the Census. Beside, others present at the seminar included Pro-VC Prof Parvin Sinclair and BRAC Convenor Dr Vimal Thorat.