Backward panel sought caste data before Odisha’s census call

BHUBANESWAR: A week after the state government formally sent a request to the Centre to include socio-economic caste enumeration in the 2021 Census, it has emerged that the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) had sought district-wise data on backward classes from the Naveen Patnaik government.
The NCBC’s request had come three days before the state cabinet passed the resolution seeking caste-based census, on January 11.
The questionnaire sent by the panel sought socio-economic data on backward classes in the state, including their population, education, employment and social status and representation in state and central government schemes.
In a letter sent to state chief secretary Asit Tripathy on January 8, the NCBC deputy secretary, BK Pati, had requested that the details be submitted within 15 days. The matter is now under consideration of the state SC/ST development, minorities and backward classes welfare department.
Among the other details sought by the NCBC from the state government are — prescribed quota of reservation for backward classes in direct recruitment and in promotions, whether the state has promulgated any Act governing reservation for backward classes in services, backlog vacancies identified for OBCs, actual representation of OBCs in state PSUs, annual turnout of graduates vis-à-vis that of OBCs and data on pre and post metric scholarship schemes.
The NCBC has also sought details of OBC specific schemes, hostels constructed for OBC students and representation of backward classes in schemes like MGNREGA, National Rural Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana among others.
“It would be very difficult for the state government to respond to all the details sought by the NCBC as we don’t have any specific programmes for backward classes since we don’t have their definite numbers. We have asked the departments concerned to respond to the queries sought by the commission. We will reply accordingly,” said a senior state government official requesting anonymity.
The state has so far not launched any OBC-specific schemes. Population of backward classes in the state is around 54 per cent and they are being given 11.25 per cent quota in government jobs. There are around 209 communities identified as backward classes in the state.
The Naveen Patnaik government’s move had sparked debate over caste-based politics in state. The BJP had earlier criticized the state government for not providing 27 per cent quota to backward classes in Odisha.
Senior BJD leader and former minister Ananta Das said, “The Centre should consider the state government’s demand for a caste-based census to identify the socio-economic and educational status of the backward population.”