Bihar: Sub-categories of castes merged, given code for caste-based survey

PATNA: The state government has taken "revolutionary" step of merging the sub-categories of a particular caste concerned into one single social entity, which will have one numerical caste code for use during the month-long second phase of caste-based headcount from April 15 to May 15.
It will simplify the caste-based headcount exercise being conducted in the state. The codes have also been given to religion, offspring out of inter-religious wedlock, property (land, homestead land) and even professions, like doctor and lawyers. The caste-based headcount is being done after nine decades since the last caste-based census done in 1931.
Under the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, headed by Manmohan Singh, the socio-economic survey was conducted across the country in 2011, but it incorporated the enumeration of even the sub-categories of a caste. Its outcome and the mass of data on castes became unmanageable, as a result of which it was not put either in official use or in public domain.
The caste-based headcount being done in Bihar is being eagerly watched to assess if the method adopted could be replicated in other states, or even nationally, observers felt. For assigning the caste code, the 214 known castes have been listed in the alphabetical order of Hindi language.
As to the second phase of the headcount, like among the upper caste groups, the sub-categories of Maithil, Kanyakubj and other Brahmins have been merged into a single social entity called Brahmin, which will have caste code as 126. No separate enumeration of its sub-categories will be done.
Similarly, the caste code of the Rajput is 169, of the Bhumihar 142, of the Kayastha 21 and of the Darzee (Srivastava, Lala, Lal) 206. Further, among the backward caste groups, if the caste code of Kurmi caste (Awadhiya, Kochaisa, etc) is 24 and of Kushwaha (Koeri) 26, then the sub-categories Gwala, Ahir, Gora, Ghasi, Mehar, Sadgop and Lakshmi Narayan Gola merged into the single entity called Yadav, with caste code of 165.
Also, it holds good for all other caste groups -- extremely backward caste, and scheduled castes. As many as 20 sub-categories have been merged into Bania caste that has been the code of 122, and Sinduria Bania has been give 186 caste code.
In the case of Purnia, Araria, Katihar and Kishanganj districts, Surjapuri Muslims have been given the caste code of 188, leaving out Pathan, Sheikh, Syed, Mallik and Mogal from it.
"Its implication is that the sub-categories of a caste will have relevance only for their private use, not official use. For private use, sub-caste specific rituals and other aspects will become alive and relevant pertaining to ceremonies related to birth, marriage and death, also during celebration of festivals," an observer said.