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Forward caste, Oppressor Caste (or General caste) is a term used in India used to denote castes which are historically economically and socially privileged. These group consist of people from top of Varna System, also called Dvijas which includes the Brahmins (priestly class), Kshatriyas (warriors class), and Vaishyas (merchants class). These classes have history of oppressing and marginalising the Shudra (peasants and servants) and Dalits (untouchables) which are in the lower in varna system or outcaste. The forward caste have enjoyed unquestioned hegemony over all the socio-economic opportunities for centuries while depriving marginalised caste for basic human rights such as access to school, roads and drinking water.

The forward caste are generally socio-economically well-off than Lower Caste and Outcaste namely Dalits. They account for about 30.8% of the population based on Schedule 10 of available data from the National Sample Survey Organisation 55th (1999–2000) and National Sample Survey Organisation 61st Rounds (2004–05) Round Survey and yet occupy more than 60% of Resources.

These are controversial group due to their history and attack on affirmative action despite having Economically Weaker Section reservation of 10% only for forward castes by Pro-Hindutva government to appease their core voters..

General caste

The term 'General caste' is used to describe groups historically considered socio-economically better off and higher in the caste hierarchy of India.

The castes recognized as General caste by the Government of India

Communities that were considered as General caste list in some regions:

Demographics

State, U.T General Castes Population % O.B.C Population % Scheduled Castes Population % Scheduled Tribes Population %
Andhra Pradesh 25.4% 50% 19% 5.6%
Bihar 15.52% 63.13% 19.65% 1.68%

Economic and educational status

As of 2007, forward castes had to compete only in the open category, as they are considered socially, educationally, and economically advanced. The open category seats can be competed and filled by any section of the society irrespective of the caste. Due to rigorous demand and the relative financial weakness of the people of the General category, the Government of India introduced 10% as EWS quota for them, which makes their total reservation to 10%. However, in certain states, such as Tamil Nadu, the reservation percentage is around 69%.

Reservation for economically backward among forward castes

Before 2019, forward castes were only allowed to compete for seats in the unreserved category in educational institutions and central government jobs, regardless of their educational/economical status in society. A significant percentage of the forward caste lives below the poverty line, and more than 30% of the members of this community are illiterate. To meet their aspirations, demands have been raised for providing separate reservations for the poor among forward caste populations. Many political parties like BJP, Samajwadi Party, LJP, Rastriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party have supported proposals for providing a separate reservation for the poor among the forward castes.

Timeline

  • 1991: Congress government headed by Narasimha Rao introduced 10% separate reservation for poor among forward castes.
  • 1992: The Supreme Court has ruled in the Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India case that separate reservation for poor among forward castes is invalid. Government has withdrawn separate reservation as per supreme court judgement.
  • 2003: BJP government appointed a group of ministers for suggesting measures for implementation of separate reservation for the poor among forward castes.
  • 2004: A task force has been set up to determine modalities for providing reservations to the poor among forward castes. No information available regarding a report submitted by this task force.
  • 2006: Congress government appointed commission to study separate reservation for economically backward class.
  • 2006: The Communist government in Kerala earmarked 12% of the seats in private professional colleges for the economically poor among forward castes.

State and central governments have not released adequate data regarding the representation of various communities in their services and admissions to educational institutions. Most of the private companies in India do not collect data regarding the community of their employees.

Rural landholding pattern of various social groups calculated by National Sample Survey 99-00 indicate that OBC and forward castes are comparable in wealth
  • In Tamil Nadu forward castes have secured around 1.9% of the seats in medical colleges in 2004 and 2.68% of the seats in 2005, against their population percentage of 13%. This trend of poor representation has continued for the last 10 years as claimed by lawyers in one of the reservation cases, because other communities are very competitive and secure seats in general quote because of education has reached beyond forward communities.
  • The Narendra committee report in Kerala has pointed out that forward castes representation in public services and PSU units is around 36 to 38%, which is more or less equal to their population percentage.
  • The Karnataka minister gave opinion in the state Assembly has announced that the per capita income of the Brahmins is less than that of all communities including scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in Karnataka.
  • The oversight committee in its final report has indicated that forward castes are placed better than backward castes in some indicators and are comparable with backward castes concerning some few indicators and that backward castes are superior in some parameters like health indicators in states like Assam, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal, etc.
  • The national survey 99-00 indicates that forward castes are better placed than SC/ST in almost all parameters. In rural unemployment, forward castes score worse than all other communities.
  • The provisional report of the National Sample Survey Organisation (2004–05) states that buying capacities of backward castes in rural and urban areas are comparable to forward castes. It also revises the backward castes figure as 41%. It states that landownership of backward castes are comparable to forward castes. It reiterates its earlier finding (in 99-00 survey) that forward castes are poorly employed (more unemployment).
  • The national surveys used rural landholding pattern to assess wealthiness of various social groups. Its findings indicate that OBC and FC are comparable and there is a very small difference between them. There is a big difference between OBC/FC and SC. Even Scheduled Tribes are placed better than Scheduled castes. Experts who analysed the national survey results point out that other backward castes are near average in many parameters. Please see the chart.
  • On 7 January 2019, the Union Council of Ministers approved a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the forward castes. The cabinet decided that this would be over and above the existing 50% reservation for SC/ST/OBC categories.
  • On 7 November 2022, Supreme Court of India by a 3:2 verdict in the Janhit Abhiyan vs Union Of India Writ Petition (Civil) No(S). 55 OF 2019, upheld the validity of the 103rd constitutional amendment carried out to provide legal sanction to carve out a 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections from unreserved classes for admission in educational institutions and government jobs and held that the 50% cap on quota is not inviolable and affirmative action on economic basis may go a long way in eradicating caste-based reservation. This constitutional amendment pushed the total reservation to 59.50% in central institutions.

Shrinking educational and job opportunities

See also: Affirmative action

In India less than 2 Lakh jobs are announced in public sector, where applicants are in tens of lakhs. Most of these jobs are of low quality and there is even more competition in the high quality jobs. The acceptance rate in Indian premier education institution is less than 1%, where applicant number can go upto 20 lakh and in some case even more. With growing population and demand, the government is failing to provide resources to their people resulting in animosity among their own peers. The privatisation of many public sector company has led to even less opportunities for the impoverished and marginalised.

During April 2006, India's Human Resource Minister announced that 27% seats will be reserved exclusively for candidates from Other Backward class in addition to existing 22.5% reservation for Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Many states do not have 27% of Other Backward class population, as per national sample surveys. (This includes major Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal). Some Indian states like Assam , Goa , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand , have more than 50% Forward castes population, which means the number of seats secured by Forward castes will not be equal to their population proportion even if they secure 100% seats in open competition in central government institutions of these states. Central government, however, excluded 27% reservations to Other Backward class to the areas with high tribal populations.

However, on 7 January 2019, the Union Council of Ministers approved 10% reservation for the forward castes in government jobs and educational institutions. This group is classified as the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). The cabinet decided that this would be over and above the existing 50% reservation for SC/ST/OBC categories.

See also

References

  1. Sumedha Gupta. The Study of the Impact of Early Life Conditions on Later Life Events. Rozenberg publishers. p. 119.
  2. India, Ideas For. "Wealth inequality, class, and caste in India: 1961-2012". Ideas For India. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
  3. Balakrishnan Nair, V. (1994). Social Development and Demographic Changes in South India. ISBN 9788185880501. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. Minhaz, Ayesha (7 November 2023). "Andhra Pradesh hopes caste census will enhance data-driven governance". Frontline. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  5. Joy, Shemin. "Caste survey in Bihar: OBCs, EBCs make up 63.13% of population; Gen Category 15.52%". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. Tamil Nadu's quota stir an assertion of its 69 percent? (NEWS ANALYSIS) - India Archived 2012-07-13 at archive.today
  7. Laloo bats for upper caste reservations, ExpressIndia, 5 May 2006. Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Left strikes a masterstroke, ExpressIndia, 17 May 2006. Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Paswan for quota for economically backward". The Hindu. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. "Cong. for 'quota' for poor among forward castes". The Hindu. 14 August 2003. Archived from the original on 17 March 2004.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. Bureau, The Rediff News. "Will Modi's quota meet same fate as Narasimha Rao's?". Rediff. Retrieved 2021-11-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. "The Hindu : GoM to study quota for poor among forward castes". Archived from the original on October 21, 2003. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. "The Hindu Business Line: Jobs for economically backward classes: 4-member commission set up". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. "Commission for economically backward classes constituted". The Hindu. 2006-07-25. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. "The Kerala Professional Colleges Bill And Social Justice". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. "TN Act on reservation under 9th schedule illegal". The Hindu. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-05-23.
  17. "League locks horns with upper castes, The Milli Gazette, Vol.5 No.15, MG109 (1-15 Aug 04)". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  18. "Are Brahmins the Dalits of today?". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. FINAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE -3.10.2006.doc
  20. "OBC population has increased: NSSO". Hindustan Times. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2006. The National The Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report released on Tuesday reveals that the OBC population has increased from 35.8 per cent in 1999 to 41 per cent in 2004-05. The survey brings out that the OBCs have a buying capacity almost equal to that of the forward communities and more than SC's and ST's. In rural India, as many as eight per cent of OBCs spends Rs 1,100 or more every month as compared to 11 per cent of the forward communities.
  21. Surjit S Bhalla, OBC: the Oh, so average Indian, Business Standard, 14 June 2013.
  22. "Union Cabinet approves 10% reservation for economically weak among upper caste". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  23. "Plea in SC challenges 10% quota to poor in general category". The Economic Times. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  24. "Quotas for poor among 'forward castes' upheld: Here's the case and what the SC has ruled".
  25. "Supreme Court upholds EWS quota in 3-2 split verdict, CJI in minority". The Times of India.
  26. "Reservation policy cannot stay for indefinite period, says Supreme Court". The Hindu.
  27. "Quota for OBCs: "No escape for Government"". The Hindu. 2006-04-08. Archived from the original on 2006-04-09. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  28. "Reserve 27% seats for OBCs in 3 years: Bill". 30 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  29. "Union Cabinet approves 10% reservation for economically weak among upper caste". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  30. "Plea in SC challenges 10% quota to poor in general category". The Economic Times. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
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