Will create a real-time social registry comprising asset information: Centre

According to reports, the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), which collected economic and caste data from households in 2011-12, would not be updated. Rather, the Centre will form a social registry of households that would include information on assets and benefits received through government programmes. The registry will be devised using household data obtained as part of the ongoing population census.

According to two senior government officials, the national government is opposed to keeping caste data in the registry. Leaders of several social groups have warned to agitate if their demand for caste data inclusion in the social registry is not met.

The Prime Minister's Office made the decision on the social registry after the Ministry of Rural Development suggested the SECC for the second time.

“The concept is that all significant information from each household will be retained in the social registry. Homelessness, landlessness, work status, benefits received by the family, and the number of people in a family, would be tracked in real-time to assist the government in implementing welfare programmes," as per an official.

Under the normal decadal census, the Registrar General of India (RGI) is currently collecting population statistics. The population census collects economic data although it's not as extensive as the SECC. Also, the population census records information on the population of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, though not on other socioeconomic communities.

As per the official, industrialised countries keep a real-time social registration. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) has been tasked with coordinating the establishment of the social registry with other ministries.

“After the fundamental household data are received from the RGI, the MeitY and other ministries will decide how specific information on families will be gathered,” added the official.

Apart from assets like telephone, motorcycle, land, pucca home, landlessness, and tax payment, the SECC 2011-12 collected data on the caste of the households. In 2015, the government disclosed economic data and formed a committee led by then-Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya to categorise the caste names returned in the SECC along with household statistics. The committee has yet to submit its report.

Former acting Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and former chairwoman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Justice Vangala Eswaraiah, has stated that the government must incorporate caste in the proposed social registry.

“Nearly 85 % of the country's mulnivasi are underrepresented in public services and higher education. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar advocated for equitable representation of all communities in public services and education. Caste data are critical for equitable community development,” Eswaraiah remarked.

He added that if caste data were not included, several organisations such as the All India Backward & Minority Communities Employees Federation, the Backward Classes Federation, the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, and the All India Federation of OBCs would stage a protest.

Furthermore, Former National Advisory Council (NAC) member N.C. Saxena believes a real-time social register is a good idea if it is kept up to date.

Saxena explained, “after one year, any survey data becomes outdated. The government continues to rely on outdated data for its welfare programmes, while newly qualified beneficiaries are overlooked.”