योंगेंद्र यादव जाति आधारित जनगणना नहीं चाहते?

वे चाहते हैं कि इस बार की जनगणना में ओबीसी की भी गिनती कर ली जाए। ये प्रस्ताव विवादास्पद है।

देखें उनका लेख

VHP opposes caste-based census

Madurai The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday opposed caste-based census saying it would strengthen casteist forces and lead to discrimination.
"There should not be caste-based discrimination. There was no caste based census after 1931, why should the government revive it now?" VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia asked.

Talking to reporters here, he also opposed any move to provide reservation for Muslims and Christians saying it is unconstitutional.

"Constitution did not provide for religion-based quota and VHP would mobilise students, unemployed youths and caste associations for launching a countrywide movement against any attempt to provide reservation to minorities," he said.

Pointing out that 50 per cent reservation had been made for SCs, STs and OBCs, the VHP leader wondered from where the government would provide further reservation.

VHP would not allow the existing reservation to be "snatched" for providing quota to minorities. "We have charted out an action plan to counter the government move," he said.

On demands for reservation for Christian dalits, he said, "Let Christians admit openly to the international community that caste system and discrimination do exist in their religion."

Census 2011 to include caste

The government on Friday took the historic decision to include caste in the ongoing census. “Caste will be included in the present census,” finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Friday.

A caste-based census was last carried out in 1931. Independent India had shunned counting the numbers of people belonging to each caste — barring an omnibus figure for the scheduled caste — with the objective of moving towards a casteless society.

Govt may not be averse to caste-based census

Govt may not be averse to caste-based census

New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) With most parties pushing for a caste-based census, the government does not seem to be averse to such an exercise during the process to enumerate the country's populace that began recently.

Government sources said there is enough time to incorporate a section of caste in the census exercise whose second phase will begin in February next year.

The Registrar General of Census Operations, which conducts the census exercise in the country, is yet to print the papers relating to census and if, necessary, the clause of caste could be incorporated in it.

Some ministers had earlier said since the census exercise had already begun, enlisting caste data would be difficult this time.

A final view in this regard will be taken by the Union Cabinet, sources said.

LJP supports caste-based census

New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) Supporting the demand for a caste- based census, LJP today said government should undertake the exercise as it will give a clear picture of the population of different castes living in the country.

"Some castes say that they are 52 per cent, Some say they are 20 per cent....There are several castes which have no mention in any list, neither they are backwards nor Dalits. We demand census on caste lines. There is no harm in it. Caste- based census was last done in 1931," LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters here.

Noting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha today that government would take a decision shortly in the matter, Paswan said, "We will welcome the move if government decides to conduct caste-based Census."

Paswan underlined that no system has damaged the country to the extent the caste system has done.

Govt to decide on demand for caste based census: PM

New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) Amid demands for a caste based census, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha today that government would take a decision shortly in the matter.

"I am aware of the views of the members of Parliament belonging to all sections. I assure you that the Cabinet will take a decision shortly," Singh said in a brief statement.

The Prime Minister's statement mollified agitated opposition members who had forced adjournment of the House earlier after Home Minister P Chidambarm virtually ruled out inclusion of caste in the exercise.

The debate on the issue had seen members cutting across party lines favouring caste based census.

Replying to the debate, Chidambaram insisted that the main aim of the exercise was headcount and listed difficulties in including caste in the list.

Social system is based on caste system: Gurudas Dasgupta

Speech in Lok Sabha, 6th May, 2010

Mr. Chairman, I join unhesitatingly the unanimity of the House that the identification of a person should be on the basis of social status, that is, caste. I agree with it totally.

The fact of the matter is that the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and Muslims are subjected to social atrocity all over the country and nobody can deny it. We have not been able to break poverty; nor have we been able to bring about economic empowerment of the people. It is a reality that the most poor people of this country belong to this section. Who are the most poor people? They are the Dalits, they are the Adivasis, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Muslims and the Tribals. If it is so, then what is wrong in identifying them on the basis of their own identification status, that is, caste?

I do not say that caste will bring about the division of the country. It is not possible because despite the caste system, India has existed, despite the caste system, the national unity has not been impaired.It is a long history, not of today but of the past and days immemorial. Today there is a statement by the hon. Minister that the census system cannot be changed. Today there is a statement by the hon. Minister that the census system cannot be changed because it has already started. We have got the news, right or wrong, that the Cabinet is divided.

It is not for me to substantiate. There are Members of the Cabinet who say that if it is done on the basis of caste it will divide the nation. Can you wish away the caste? Is it possible? There is caste. Therefore, the point is, if there is a caste, let us do our bit and bring about a situation when we are able to bring India economically empowered on the basis of the salvation of the caste.

I wish that the Government does not take a narrow view and the Government takes a broad view and if the Government takes a broad view and accepts the unanimity of the House, then there will be a democratic sense prevailing in the Government. Therefore, I do not want to go into any jargon, any politics, anything at all. The social system is based on caste system. Therefore, it should be taken into account while the census is done. This is my submission in unity with the cross-section of the opinion that has been reflected in the House.

H.D. DEVEGOWDA is for caste based census

Speech in Lok Sabha on 6th May, 2010

Mr. Chairman, Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the House to some points. Some of our Members from the Treasury Benches mentioned about the Havanur Commission’s recommendations. In that period as Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka I moved a resolution. I will read resolution :

“Recommending to the Government of India to conduct caste-wise census of the people of the country.”

This is the resolution which I have moved in 1974 as the Leader of the Opposition. I do not want to go into the details of all the figures that he has quoted which I have quoted in my speech.

How many Governors belong to the upper castes? How many Chief Ministers belong to those castes? I have got all these figures here. I do not want to elaborate and take much time of the House. I would like to draw attention of the House to only one point.

Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi wanted to give constitutional teeth to the Panchayati Raj and the Nagarpalikas and the Local Bodies and to these institutions. But he was unable to get two-third majority and the legislations were defeated. During the time of late Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments were brought and they were adopted, passed by both the Houses. But before passing these two amendments, I was also included in one of the Joint Parliamentary Committees and in that Joint Parliamentary Committee we were unable to come to a unanimous decision so far as the backward classes are concerned. It was because of the recommendations made by Dr. Khalidkar and various other State-level Backward Class Commissions.

There, there were differences among the Members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Then we took a decision in the Committee that the reservation, so far as the backward classes are concerned, can be left to the States so far as reserving theconstituencies for the castes which were carved so far as the Panchayat Raj system was concerned.

Sir, the only problem at that time was that we did not have Census figures. That was the reason for which we were unable to come to a unanimous decision so far as Joint Parliamentary Committee was concerned. Subsequently, in Karnataka, we have taken certain decisions. As the seniormost leader Shri Gurudas Dasgupta has said, we have taken the decision in Karnataka about dalit Christians and minorities. Shri Moily is also here. He knows that Karnataka has formulated it. Of course, we cannot overrule the decision of the Supreme Court and we cannot exceed reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes beyond 50 per cent. So, we have categorised them. I would like to read that reservation list, which is within the ambit of the decision of the Supreme Court. It is general merit – 50 per cent; Scheduled Caste – 15 per cent; Scheduled Tribe – 3 per cent; Category I – 4 per cent; Category IIA – 15 per cent; and Category IIB – 4 per cent which is exclusively for Muslims. Since Muslim population in Karnataka is hardly 10 per cent, we created a separate compartment and gave 4 per cent reservation to them in 1995. Category IIIA belongs to my own community, which is given 4 per cent reservation. There is not only Vokkaliga community, but 23 other communities also clubbed in it, and Lingayats are given 5 per cent reservation. I do not want to go into all these details of the exercise we made.

When the Deputy Leader of the BJP was speaking, I was hearing. So far as the decision of the Supreme Court limiting the reservation to 50 per cent is concerned, it is very difficult to accommodate all these communities. There are various communities I know of and I can quote the number of communities which we have dealt with in the Havanur Commission on Backward Classes. He had gone very extensively into it, much more than all the previous Commissions. The Havanur Commission made a very deep study of that. He is no more now. That is why, this House may have to take a decision reversing the decision of the Supreme Court which limits the reservation. The House in its wisdom can allow it to exceed more than 50 per cent. Otherwise, we are not going to do justice to those neglected communities. Unless and until, as he said, poverty is eradicated, social disparity or injustice will continue. As long as we allow this injustice to continue, we cannot provide what is called peace and harmony in the society. This is my honest opinion. You can deliberate more on this and have more discussion on this. Peace and harmony comes only when we completely eradicate poverty and there is 100 per cent literacy. Only then, it can be achieved; otherwise we cannot achieve it.

Sir, I wholeheartedly support the leaders. We have done everything for them, including the Muslims and the women. Shri Moily is here. We have given 33 per cent reservation to women. From primary education to university education, 50 per cent of all the teaching posts are reserved for women, whether it is the post of Professor, Assistant Professor or ordinary teacher. We are all talking of women empowerment today. There is 33 per cent reservation in all posts. Article 15(4) … (Interruptions) Yes, it is there in Karnataka. There is nothing new in it.

Our seniormost leader, Dr. Kalaignar had once said that he would have to adopt Karnataka model. I know that. I am telling this because Karnataka has shown that and tried to bring it within the purview of 50 per cent ceiling of reservation, especially the reservation for women. Not only that, the posts of Chairperson are also reserved for them. The post of Chairperson or Chairman or Deputy Chairman in Zila Panchayat, Taluka Panchayat, Gram Panchayat on rotation basis goes to backward classes, the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe and then the so-called general category.

All these things are going on for the last 15 years. More than 8,000 and odd engineers of the Muslim community are qualified and they are working in various countries and nearly 1,400 doctors are there so far as the Muslim community is concerned. I am only giving a couple of information to this august House, namely,as to what benefit has been given to the Muslim minority in Karnataka in the last 15 years. It is more than 8,000 engineers and nearly 1,400 doctors.I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for allowing me some time, on behalf of my Party, to express my views. Thank you very much, Sir.

AIADMK supports caste based census

SHRI O.S. MANIAN (MAYILADUTHURAI)

Lok Sabha Speech on 6th may, 2010:

Thank you, Madam Chairman. The most important work on Census 2011 has started. In this census 35 questions or details are being asked. As far as possible, the number of details may be curtailed, but at the same time the most important ones should not be ignored.

At many places the stay of the head of the family or the person who leaves his native place to some other country, State or place, is only temporary. Most of them return back to their respective native places. Census for such people should not be left behind. Most of them return during their religious customary functions or other important functions. People at the Taluk level and Union level should take necessary steps to include these people in the census during this period. There should be no double entry as well.

The illiterate people are finding it very difficult to answer the queries asked by the census officials. Necessary arrangements may be made to depute officials who can take exact details from such people during the census.

The work of census for people living in coastal areas has been handed over to private companies and the same have already started the work. I humbly submit that the census may be done on the righteous path and submitted at the earliest.

The census should be a successful one. The main objective of the census is to find the exact details of the socially, economically and backward people so that they are uplifted.

The census is being taken once in ten years. The data which is taken during the census is being used by the Government as a parameter for the economic conditions and requirements of the people in order to introduce welfare schemes for their upliftment.

I would like to say that for getting admission of our children to school, the first question that the school authorities ask us is our caste. Even at the time of interview for employment the selection authority verifies the caste certificate. So, what is wrong in mentioning the caste?

Before concluding my speech, I, on behalf of the AIADMK Party support the caste-based census. Thank you.

Nitish Kumar supports Lalu, Paswan on caste Census

Patna- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday lent his full support to the demand for holding caste-wise census in the country.

Supporting RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan, he said : “I fully support the view for a caste-wise national census and in fact my party (JD-U) has stuck to this stand since 1990.”

“The caste-wise census will identify the numbers of backwards and extremely-backward people paving way for devising plan for their all-round growth,” he said before leaving for Madhubani in his second leg of ‘Vishwas Yatra’ to elicit people’s opinions on the performance of his government.

Nitish, however, was cautious when his commment was sought about yesterday’s argument between BJP leader Ananth Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad over the former’s ‘gaddar’ remark on Lalu.

Yesterday, the debate on whether or not the country’s population statistics should include caste details took a violent turn when Ananth Kumar and Lalu Prasad got into an altercation. Ananth threw extremely bold allegations at Lalu calling him a “traitor”. He also accused Lalu of selling the country by showing sympathy to illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. He said, “You are determined to sell the country, you are doing vote-bank politics.”

Several leaders from scheduled and backward castes, including Union Law Minister Veerapa Moily, have demanded enumerating the population on the basis of caste, saying that it is a reality in Indian society and having caste-based data would help plan various socio-economic schemes.

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has also sought for enumerating the population on the basis of caste, saying that it is a reality in Indian society and ignoring the issue won’t do as caste is a reality in Indian system.

“Even ticket distribution by political parties is done on the basis of caste,” Paswan said.

Pointing out that the last caste census was carried out in 1931 in India, Paswan said having data about the population belonging to various backward or Dalit castes would also help the government to properly launch various socio-economic programme for them.

Union Home minister P Chidambaram has opposed the caste-based census. The home ministry, which is opposed to the demand for the inclusion of caste figures, has been maintaining that it was fraught with “dangerous consequences”. In a note drafted for the Cabinet, it cited “operational difficulties” in carrying out such an exercise which, if executed, would overshadow its basic objective itself. There were, the home ministry note pointed out, 1,885 notified SCs and STs in India. But the number returned in the 2001 census was 18,478. There were, in addition, surnames and clan names, and classification and grouping under SC/ST itself was a formidable task. In the event of a caste-based census, hundreds of castes will be returned with people using clan names and gotra interchangeably.

- AGENCIES

MP ASADUDDIN OWAISI (HYDERABAD) supporting caste based census

Lok Sabha/6th May, 2010

Madam Chairman, I stand here to support the demand that has been made, through a census, about backward class communities.I only have seven points to make because of paucity of time. Why do we require the census of backward class communities to be done? Firstly, it is for better development planning of BCs so that their educational and social level parameters come up to the level of upper castes.

The second point is that numerous writ petitions are being filed in the courts of law stating that there is no population of backward classes. To negative these writ petitions which are being filed in courts of law, it is needed.

There is a misconception that constitutional safeguards are only for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This is totally true. For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, articles 341 and 342 are there. For BCs, article 340 is there, though it was implemented lately, in 1990s only.

Article 15 (4) was given by none other than the great Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. I would like to know from the Congress Party whether Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a castiest. He has given article 15 (4) wherein reservation was given to OBCs. This is the point which the hon. Minister must answer when he replies to the debate. That is why, in the light of article 15 (4), this demand is being made.

Which OBC list should be followed? This is a census done by the Central Organisation. So, the Central OBC list should be followed. In the Central OBC list, how many BCs are there? It is 1,963. The number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are 1,300. So, not much difference is there.

The next point is, why can the NCBC or the State BC Commission not do this exercise? This exercise cannot be done by them. The NCBC and the State BC Commission can do a survey. But they cannot do a census. They do not have the wherewithal; they do not have the infrastructure and the capability to do it.

My next point is very point. There is a confidentiality clause in the census, whereas in the Citizenship Act and the rules, no such confidentiality clause is there. In the light of the recent eves dropping conspiracy and telephone tapping, I would like to know from the Government as to what steps will be taken to protect my privacy. This information will be there. All my ten fingers will be there. The information of citizens, especially of the Muslim community will be there. I would like to know what would be the safety mechanism for upholding the privacy of the citizens in the light of the NATGRID? This information can be shared by the IB and other organisations. …

(Interruptions)

What will happen to fifty lakh Indians who are working in Gulf countries? Will they open an NPR because NPR is being done now? Will this exercise continue not only for the next year but on a continuous basis? It is because their names have to be reflected so that they can get the Unique Identification Card.

The last point is that, for this population enumeration, can the forms be given in Urdu, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Bengaluru and Lucknow? It is because when the enumerators are going and asking the details in Muslim localities, they are answering in Urdu.

The last and important point is that for the first time we are seeing how the BJP is badly exposed. The BJP’s slogan was “Justice to all and appeasement to none.” But what Shri Munde has said, has exposed the BJP.

Janhit Abhiyan demands for caste-wise census in 2011

(As appeared in The Hindu)

As the government prepares to conduct the next decennial population census in 2011, Janhit Abhiyan, a voluntary organisation, has demanded caste-wise enumeration of population in the country which has not been carried out since 1931.

The demand was also raised by Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar Ansari through a special mention stressing the need to conduct caste-based enumeration. He contended that there were changes in the social, economic and educational standards of different castes, but due to the lack of any reliable and authentic data benefits of the welfare schemes failed to reach the intended segments.

Mr. Ansari pointed out that the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Social Justice had admitted, in its report in the last Lok Sabha, that the government did not have reliable data on the total population of backward castes and those living below poverty line. As a result, he said, the Ministry was not able to fulfil its obligations to the backward and poor segments through its welfare schemes.

“Caste-wise census is necessary for collecting reliable and accurate data relating to economic, social, educational, and political status of different castes. Since no such exercise has been taken in independent India, fruits of development and benefits of the government schemes are not able to reach the targeted sections. It is not a question of collecting data about the status of only backward castes but also relating to economically poorer sections among the upper castes. The government can redesign its welfare schemes based on the latest data. We have already started a debate on it among various sections of the society, including MPs, social workers and youth,” says Raj Narayan of the Janhit Abhiyan.

The demand for conducting a caste-wise census has also been voiced in the recent past by Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss so that it could serve as the basis for determining the percentage of reservation.

While stating that the next population census would be conducted during February 9 to 28, 2011 with 00:00 hours of March 1, 2011 as the reference date, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken said details relating to linguistic, socio-economic and religious composition would be collected during the massive exercise.

“In the decennial population census, data on various demographic, and socio-economic parameters — age, sex, Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe status, literacy, religion, mother tongue, languages known, economic activity status, migration status are collected. The cartographic depiction of data collected through census is prepared in the form of thematic maps and released in the Census Atlas,” Mr. Maken said.

Social and voluntary organisations pointed out that in the past 70 years, some caste names have changed, new ones have emerged while some castes have merged with others or have moved up or down the social hierarchy and many have become politically active.

Caste being a sensitive issue, the demand for conducting caste-based census is likely to stir up serious debate. On the other hand, several academicians argued that even if caste data were collected and became relevant, caste-wide census had full potential of being exploited by vote-bank and reservation politics.

Official sources said the government had decided not to have caste enumeration during the 2001 population census. “The census is already overloaded. Over five million tables are generated and analysed even without caste enumeration,” sources pointed out.

Citing moral arguments, those opposed to caste-wise census contend that collection of caste data would “increase casteism” and “perpetuate caste system.” On the other side, pro caste-wise census activists demolish such fears by saying that non-collection of caste data in the last 70 years had neither eliminated caste distinctions nor ended caste inequality.

जानवरों की गिनती होगी, जाति की नहीं

राजकिशोर

पिछली बार की तरह इस बार भी जनगणना कर्मचारी जब मेरे बारे में ढेर सारी जानकारी लेने आएगा, तो वह सब कुछ पूछेगा, पर मेरी जाति जानना नहीं चाहेगा। मैं उससे आग्रह करूंगा कि कहीं पर मेरी जाति तो लिख लीजिए, तब वह सिर हिला देगा। इसरार करने पर वह कहेगा, मेरे रजिस्टर में ऐसा कोई कॉलम ही नहीं है, जहां मैं आपकी जाति लिख सकूं। बहुत थोड़े-से लोग जानते हैं कि मैं आ॓बीसी हूं। मुझे आ॓बीसी होने का न तो दुख है, न गौरव। आ॓बीसी होने के कारण मुझे न तो कभी कोई फायदा मिला, न नुकसान हुआ। हो सकता है, नुकसान हुआ हो। क्योंकि ब्राह्मण या ठाकुर होने से लेखन और पत्रकारिता में कुछ फायदा होता है, यह मैं देख चुका हूं।

साप्ताहिक ‘रविवार’ में, जहां मैंने पत्रकारिता सीखी और की, पहला संपादक ठाकुर था और दूसरा संपादक ब्राह्मण। तीसरा संपादक भी ब्राह्मण ही बननेवाला था कि पत्रिका के दिन पूरे हो गये। क्या ओबीसी का होने के कारण मैं ‘रविवार’ का संपादक नहीं हो सका, कहना मुश्किल है। हो सकता है, मुझमें इतनी योग्यता ही न हो कि मुझे संपादक बनाने पर विचार किया जाता। लेकिन योग्यता कहां से आती है?

पहले मैं समझता था कि योग्यता पढ़ने-लिखने से और निरंतर अभ्यास से आती है। मंडल पर बहस के दौरान यह बात सामने आयी कि योग्यता का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत जाति है। आखिर कुछ तो वजह होगी कि ऊंची जातियों के ज्यादातर सदस्य योग्य होते हैं और निम्न जातियों के ज्यादातर सदस्य अयोग्य। अपने कुनबे में मैं सबसे ज्यादा पढ़ा-लिखा था और सफेद कॉलर वाली नौकरी करता था। लेकिन मेरे कुनबे के अन्य सदस्य या तो छोटा-मोटा व्यापार करते थे या छोटी-मोटी नौकरी। इस तरह मेरी स्थिति में अपवाद का भरपूर तत्व था। फिर भी मैं उस क्लब में शामिल नहीं हो सका जो एलीट क्लास के सदस्यों को मिला कर बनता है।

मंडल पर बहस शुरू होने के पहले मैं जाति को बिलकुल महत्व नहीं देता था। राममनोहर लोहिया के असर से जाति तोड़ने के अभियान में मैं अपने को शरीक मानता था। मंडल विवाद के दिनों में मैंने पहली बार भारतीय समाज में जाति का महत्व पहचाना। आज स्थिति यह है कि ज्यादातर मामलों में आप किसी व्यक्ति की जाति जान लीजिए, उसके बाद उसके विचारों का आभास आपको खुद-ब-खुद हो जाएगा। यह दुर्भाग्य की बात है कि आज भी, इक्कीसवीं शताब्दी में, आदमी नहीं, उसकी जाति बोलती है। लेकिन जो है, सो है। अगर हम जनगणना करने निकलते हैं और लोगों की जाति नहीं लिखते, तो इस अज्ञान के आधार पर क्या तो हम भारतीय समाज का समाजशास्त्रीय अध्ययन करेंगे और क्या तो सरकारी नीतियां बनाएंगे।

भारत में आ॓बीसी लोगों की संख्या कितनी है, यह कोई नहीं बता सकता। क्योंकि 1921 के बाद जातिवार जनगणना बंद कर दी गयी। इसमें अंग्रेज शासकों का जरूर कुछ स्वार्थ होगा। वे धर्म के आधार पर भारतीय समाज को बांट चुके थे। अब जाति के आधार पर कुछ नये विभाजन करना उनके शासन के लिए खतरनाक था। उन पर जातिवाद को बढ़ावा देने का आरोप तो लगता ही। लेकिन नेहरू की कांग्रेसी सरकार ने जनगणना की इस अवास्तविक प्रक्रिया को जारी रखना क्यों आवश्यक समझा, यह किसी भी तर्क की कसौटी पर समझ में नहीं आता। मूल बात यही लगती है कि नेहरू को भारतीय समाज में जाति की अहमियत मालूम ही नहीं थी। वे तो राज्यों के भाषावार पुनर्गठन के भी विरोधी थे। लेकिन यथार्थ उनके सिर पर जिन्‍न की तरह सवार हो गया, तो उन्हें इस सचाई को स्वीकार करना पड़ा।

जाति के बारे में नेहरु यही सोचते थे कि यह चंदरोजा मामला है। दस-बीस साल के बाद जाति व्यवस्था खत्म हो जाएगी। वे जातियों के इतिहास को मिट्टी के घर समझते थे। लेकिन वे पत्थर के घर थे। क्या यह यों ही था कि एक बनिया महात्मा ने आजादी की लड़ाई लड़ी और एक पंडित सत्ता के शीर्ष पर जा बैठा। नेहरू का विश्वास जात-पात में नहीं था, पर उनके साथी और शिष्य उन्हें ‘पंडितजी’ कहते थे, तो उनकी पेशानी पर बल नहीं पड़ते थे।

आज 2010 में, जब एक बार फिर जनगणना शुरू हो चुकी है, स्थिति पूरी तरह बदल चुकी है। भारत में लोकतंत्र का चाल-चलन कुछ ऐसा रहा कि उसने लोगों के सोच को ऊपर नहीं उठाया, बल्कि और संकीर्ण कर दिया। कहते हैं, इसके लिए वोट की राजनीति जिम्मेदार है। यह आंशिक तौर पर ही सही है। इससे बड़ा सच यह है कि किसी भी दल ने जाति व्यवस्था पर प्रहार करने की कोशिश ही नहीं की। दावा तो यहां तक किया जा सकता है कि भारत में या तो जाति रहेगी या लोकतंत्र रहेगा। अकबर इलाहाबादी ने बहुत पहले फब्ती कसी थी कि जम्हूरियत इक तर्जे-हुकूमत है कि जिसमें बंदों को गिना करते हैं तौला नहीं करते। अब बंदों की भी नहीं, बल्कि उनकी जाति के मेंबरों की गिनती होती है। इसलिए हिंदुस्तान की हकीकत जाननी है, तो सिर्फ धर्म, भाषा, शिक्षा, आर्थिक स्थिति आदि जानने से काम नहीं चलेगा। यह भी देखना होगा कि किस जाति के सदस्य कितने हैं और उनकी हालत क्या है।

सच्चर कमेटी की रिपोर्ट ने मुसलमानों की जिंदगी के यथार्थ को खोल कर सामने रख दिया है। ऐसी ही विस्तृत रिपोर्ट विभिन्न जातियों की सापेक्षिक स्थिति के बारे में भी आनी चाहिए। मसलन यह तथ्य सामने आ सकता है कि ऊंची जातियों में सभी की स्थिति एक जैसी नहीं है। यह तथ्य तो सामने आएगा ही कि आरक्षण से कौन-सी जाति कितनी लाभान्वित हुई है। इसके आधार पर आरक्षण नीति पर पुनर्विचार की जरूरत पड़ सकती है। बेशक जातियों की जनगणना आसान नहीं है। बहुत-से लोग अपने को ऊंची जाति का बताएंगे। बहुत-से लोग अपने को आ॓बीसी बताएंगे ताकि आरक्षण का फायदा मिल सके। और भी तरह के घपले होंगे। मुस्लिम नेता दावा करेंगे कि इस्लाम में जातियों का कोई अस्तित्व नहीं है। लेकिन ये कठिनाइयां ऐसी नहीं हैं जिनसे पार न पाया जा सके। आवश्यकता राजनीतिक इच्छाशक्ति की है। कहने की जरूरत नहीं कि आजकल हमारे राजनीतिक वर्ग की इच्छाशक्ति कहां-कहां केंद्रित है।

MPs unanimous in demanding caste based census in 2011

read the full debate here

New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) Indian Parliament today debated caste and census. Fair deal to the backwards was the focus of the debate on Census 2011 in the Lok Sabha today with members cutting across party lines demanding that the exercise should be caste-based.

Batting for inclusion of caste in the exercise, several members warned that if the demands of backwards were ignored for long, a "volcano" could erupt.

"When the Government can count the number of trees and nullahs in survey, what is the problem in adding a column to include castes in the ongoing exercise," Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said.

Similar was the tone and tenor of JD-U chief Sharad Yadav and RJD leader Lalu Prasad during the inconclusive discussion which saw several Congress members including former minister Beni Prasad Verma making a strong pitch for caste-based census.