The organisation's Vice President, Prof Salim Engineer, says the government should ensure effective socio-economic development for backward castes and Dalits
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Vice President, Prof Salim Engineer, has praised the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming National Census. In a statement to the media, Prof Engineer highlighted the significance of caste-based data for advancing social justice in India.
“We welcome the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming National Census. Caste is still a strong social construct in India, influencing access to education, employment, and political representation. A caste census is a social, legal, administrative, and moral necessity to address the historical injustices faced by backward castes, Dalits, and Adivasis,” the Jamaat official said. “It will provide accurate data to monitor affirmative action policies like reservation and facilitate the socio-economic development of these communities.”
He emphasised that accurate data from the caste census would aid in the effective implementation of reservation policies and improve welfare schemes for marginalised communities. He further explained, “What can be measured can be managed better, and caste-based data is essential for informed policy-making and inclusive development.”
He stressed that the caste census is particularly timely given the increasing role of the private sector and the growing restrictions on government jobs. Prof Engineer underlined, “A caste census will help in making reservation and other welfare policies more effective, especially for backward classes who have been historically deprived.”
However, Prof Engineer also expressed concern over the government’s previous opposition to conducting a caste census. “It is well-documented that the government had previously rejected the idea of including castes other than Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the census. But now, it appears that they have recognised the usefulness of a caste census,” he remarked. He also pointed out that the failure of the 2011 socio-economic and caste-based census, which suffered due to poor planning and weak execution, reinforced the need for a more robust and reliable framework.
“The government’s earlier refusal to count castes other than SCs and STs was disappointing,” he added. “However, we demand that the upcoming process be transparent, inclusive, and free from political interference so that the backward classes can be empowered, and equal rights under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution are upheld,” Prof Engineer said.
The Jamaat official also urged the government to set clear timelines for the caste census process and ensure that it is well-funded. “The main objective of this process must be social justice, not political gain,” he stated. He suggested using modern technology, such as internet-connected devices pre-loaded with caste names, to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Prof Engineer dismissed the objections raised by some groups, who argue that a caste census would lead to societal division or pose administrative difficulties. He pointed out that India has been conducting censuses of religion, language, and SC/STs since 1951, without significant issues. “States like Bihar and Telangana have successfully implemented similar processes, and there is no reason why this cannot be done on a national scale,” he said.
Prof Engineer called on all political parties to support the caste census, describing it as a “revolutionary” step towards strengthening national unity and ensuring justice for the deprived sections of society. “We must work together to ensure that this process leads to social justice and empowers the backward classes,” he said.
