Context: Activists and intellectuals from the tribal community demand a separate column titled ‘Adivasi/Tribal faiths’ (a separate religion code ‘Sarna’) in Census for identifying their religion.
A. About the Census of India
Definition & Purpose:
The largest administrative exercise to collect demographic, social, and economic data of the population.
Conducted every ten years since 1881.
Conducting Authority:
Carried out by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Legal Framework:
Governed by the Census Act, 1948.
Essential for policy planning, governance, and resource allocation.
Current Status:
The 2021 Census has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preparations are now ongoing for the 2026–27 Census.
B. Misidentification of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Census
Religious Demography in the Census:
Enumerates religious identity under six major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
Other beliefs categorized under the vague title “Other Religious Persuasion (ORP)”.
No separate column for indigenous tribal faiths.
Implications of the ORP Category:
Lack of specific options for STs leads to misidentification with other religions.
In the 2011 Census:
ST population was 10.43 crore (8.6% of the total population).
Only 79 lakh (0.66%) registered under ORP.
Indicates forced religious assimilation and loss of identity for tribal communities.
C. Constitutional Implications of Exclusion
Violation of Fundamental Rights:
Article 25 & 26: Right to freedom of conscience and manage religious affairs.
Article 29(1): Right of cultural and linguistic minorities to conserve their identity.
STs being categorized under ambiguous ORP or other religions violates these rights.
Undermining Constitutional Provisions:
Fifth & Sixth Schedules:
Meant to protect tribal customs, beliefs, and governance.
Misidentification weakens the legal and cultural autonomy of ST communities.
Breach of Constitutional Morality:
The Preamble calls for inclusivity and fraternity.
Ignoring tribal faiths reflects centralization and homogenization, undermining India’s diversity.
D. Broader Implications of Misidentification
Cultural Erosion:
Leads to cultivation of invisibility and gradual loss of distinct tribal identity.
Tribal students often learn dominant religious narratives, creating alienation from their own traditions.
Under-Representation:
Tribal communities are underrepresented in cultural schemes, government programs, and budget allocations.
Affects proper implementation of:
Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA)
Forest Rights Act (FRA)
Minority-focused schemes
Resistance Movements:
In November 2020, Jharkhand Assembly passed a resolution demanding a separate religious code for Sarna religion in the 2021 Census.
Centre did not respond, viewed by tribal groups as part of a “one nation, one culture” approach.
Adivasi resistance continues, demanding recognition of their faiths as an assertion of identity.