Kerala Rules Out Separate Caste Enumeration, Confirms Minister

Quick Summary

• Kerala government has not planned to conduct a socio-economic caste census similar to the Center’s proposal for nationwide caste enumeration.
• Minister for SC/ST Progress, O.R. Kelu, stated in the State Assembly that backward communities and economically weaker sections within forward communities are already receiving reservation benefits under current frameworks.
• The Centre will incorporate caste-based enumeration into its next national Census to uncover socio-economic disparities among various castes and marginalized groups.
• Concerns about high costs have reportedly led several States, including Kerala, to refrain from conducting separate surveys on caste data independently.
• Kerala plans to use data from the e-Caste Database of Employees in Services Kerala (e-CDESK), developed by the State Backward Classes Commission, which tracks representation of castes and communities in government and quasi-government services.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The decision by kerala not to undertake an independent socio-economic caste survey aligns with broader concerns over logistical and financial feasibility emphasized at both State and national levels. While this approach allows integration with a comprehensive federal Census process led by the Centre, it also highlights reliance on initiatives like e-CDESK for more localized insights into representation gaps within government sectors-a promising but tactical measure that still appears limited in scope beyond institutional employment data.

As India moves forward with nationwide caste enumeration integrated into its population survey methods,this policy could yield essential data for addressing structural inequalities across regions. Governments at both levels must ensure transparency during implementation while balancing political sensitivities surrounding classifications of backwardness or economic deprivation so that such exercises remain tools for inclusion rather than division.

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