Socio-economic data of these islands requires proper analysis: Those who have been incompatibly placed under the General Category are going through a hard time

TMI Bureau

Port Blair, Jan 03: OBC, which stands for Other Backward Classes, is a collective term used to refer to socially and educationally disadvantaged groups in the country. The classification of communities as OBC is based on the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, which was set up in the late 1970s to identify and address the issues faced by socially and educationally backward classes. The Mandal Commission recommended that a certain percentage of seats in educational institutions and government jobs be reserved for OBC candidates to ensure their representation and upliftment. Now, more than 50 years have passed, and significant changes have occurred in the socio-economic status of the concerned communities. The benefits of the OBC classification have been availed by generations, sparking debates and discussions. Proponents argue about potential drawbacks, including reverse discrimination and the impact on merit-based selection.

To resolve the issue, the census is an essential tool for collecting, compiling, and analyzing demographic, social, and economic data of a population. The census is conducted every ten years; the last one was held in 2011, while the next one was scheduled for 2021 before being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The next census will take place after the 2024 general election.

In the A&N Islands, those who officially fall under the OBC category are Karen, Local Borns, Bhatus, Moplas, and Post-1942 Bengali Settlers settled in the Island under various rehabilitation schemes of the Government of India. In contrast, several Scheduled Castes and socio-economically weaker sections are surviving under the General Category in these islands, facing challenges in terms of education, acquiring government jobs, and housing. To rectify and balance the system, the census is a critical tool for comprehensive data collection regarding population count, demographic data, and socio-economic data. This enables governments and policymakers to allocate resources, formulate policies, plan elections, conduct research and analysis, and efficiently monitor changes while addressing the evolving needs of the population.

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