Forward Castes

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Forward castes or upper castes or non-reserved castes are group of endogamous castes that are classified neither as backward castes nor scheduled castes and tribes in lists published by the Government of India or by various state governments of India. The Government of India does not publish a separate list of forward castes. The population of these communities is estimated at around 36-39% of the Indian population based on various surveys conducted by Government of India.

[edit] Communities

The list of backward castes has many contradictions due to regional variations in the definition. The current Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh, a Khatri, will be considered as backward caste if he migrates to the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Similarly, Indian Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram who is from Nagartar community will be considered backward if he moves to Kerala.

Castes that are considered backward in some states may be considered as forward in other states. For example, khatris are a forward caste in almost all Indian states except Tamil Nadu. Jats are considered backward only in Rajastan.

[edit] Castes considered forward everywhere

• Arora,mainly concentrated in Punjab,Haryana,New Delhi
• Brahmins, and its subcastes
• Bunt, mainly concentrated in Karnataka
• Kapu (caste) and subcastes, such as Telaga and Ontari, mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh.
• Kunbi Marathas, mainly concentrated in Maharashtra
• Kamma mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu
• Marathas a.k.a. Shah Nav Kuli Marathas, mainly concentrated in Maharastra

• Nairs, mainly concentrated in Kerala
• Nambiars, Kshatriyas of Kerala
• Patels, mainly concentrated in Gujarat
• Rajputs
• Rajus, are mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh
• Reddys, mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh.
• Saiva Vellalars a.k.a Saiva Pillai mainly concentrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
• Thakurs
• Various Bania communities, e.g. Agarwals, Marwaris, Guptas, Oswals, etc.
• Velama, mainly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh.

[edit] Castes considered backward in some regions and forward in other regions

• Khatri are considered as Backward Caste only in Tamil Nadu ^[1]
• Nagarathar Chettiar mainly found in Tamil Nadu. They are considered as Forward Caste in Tamil Nadu but Backward caste in Kerala and Pondichery.^[2].
• Naidu. Some subcastes of Naidu like Gavara Naidu are considered backward castes in states like Tamilnadu. ^[3].Variants of Kapu Naidu like Vannekapu,Munnurukapu are considered backward castes in Andhra Pradesh.^[4]
• Kayasthas. Karuneegars, which is equivalent of Kayasthas, are considered backward in Tamil Nadu.
• Jats, mainly concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat/Rajastan, are only considered as backward in Rajastan.
• Komati Chettiar, mainly found in parts of Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh. One variant of the Arya vaishya caste called Ayira vaishya has been included in the backward caste list in Tamil Nadu.

[edit] Other religious people who are not eligible for reservations benefits

Source:Sachar committee report retrieved from http://www.milligazette.com/dailyupdate/2006/200612013_download_Sachar_Committee_Report_Indian_Muslims_status.htm

• 59% of Muslims, mostly of foreign descent ashrafs :Syed,Sheikh,Mughal, Pathan Bohra. ^[5] All Muslims are considered backward in Kerala and separate reservation is provided to them. Most of the muslims residing in south indian states have been classified as backward.
• 33% of Christians. In South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, many Christians follow a Hindu caste pattern. For example, Kerala's Syrian Christians, converted from upper castes like the Hindu Brahmins, are considered a forward caste. Christian Nadars are a backward caste in these regions. Other Christians like Latin Catholics (which actually represents a church instead of a caste) have been included in the list of backward castes in states like Tamilnadu & Kerala.^[6][7].
• 94% of Jains.
• 70% of Parsis.
• 46% of Sikhs
• 3% of Buddhists

[edit] Population

Many Political leaders who support Reservation for Backward classes like Mr. Karunanidhi, Dr. Udit Raj, Mr. Ramadoss, etc. estimate the Forward Castes population as anywhere from 5-15%.^[8][9] However they have not quoted sources for their estimations. National sample survey estimates Forward Caste population almost same as Backward Classes at around 36%. Family health survey combined Forward castes population along with all communities of other religions. If you exclude Backward castes of other religions, then it is around 38.6% which is more than Backward castes population. State wise Forward Caste Population can be found from the chart.

As per NSS 99-00

[edit] Economic & Educational status

Source:Employment and Unemployment situation among various social groups in India NSS 55 round 1999-2000 ^[10]

Forward Castes are unreserved categories of the indian population will have to compete only in open category as they are considered socially, educationally and economically advanced. Currently reserved category proportion stands at 50% in central government educational institutions and central Government jobs. However in certain states like Tamilnadu reservation percentage stands at around 69%.

[edit] Economic status

Based on NSS-99-00.Rural/Urban weightages based on 2001 census)

NSS 99-00 calculated economical status of Forward Communities separately for Rural/Urban Areas in various income brackets.It shows

• • Only 6.4% of Forward Castes in rural areas appear in upper income bracket with per capita monthly income stands at above Rs 925/Month.
  • 30% of rural population comprises of Forward Castes.
  • More than 65% of Forward castes per capita income stands below Rs 525/Month.

Government of India does not collect community-wise census data except for SC/ST. Economic and educational level of various social groups are gauged using large sample surveys. National Sample Survey taken in 1999-2000 (NSS 99-00) and National Family Health Survey taken in 1998-99 (NFHS 98-99) estimated economic, educational and health indicators of various communities. These surveys were used extensively in the report submitted by the oversight committee.

Based on NSS-99-00.Rural/Urban weightages based on 2001 census)

For urban areas,

• • Only 5.6% of Forward Castes appear in upper income bracket with per capita income at or above Rs. 1925/Month (around US $40).
  • More than 25% of Forward castes per capita income stands below Rs. 500/Month (around $10)

[edit] Educational status

Based on NSS-99-00.Rural/Urban weightages based on 2001 census)

• • More than 30% of Forward Castes above 15 years of age are illiterate.
  • Only 8% of Forward Castes are graduates.
  • Around 85% of Forward Castes above 15 years of age have done equal to or below secondary Education (10 Years of Education)

[edit] Reservation for economically backward among Forward Castes

Currently Forward Castes will have to compete only in unreserved category in educational institutions and central government jobs irrespective of their educational/economical status in the society. Significant percentage of Forward Caste population lives below poverty line and more than 30% members of their communities are illiterates. To meet their aspirations, demands have been raised for providing separate reservations for economically poor among Forward castes. Many political parties like Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party, LJP, Rastriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India(Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party ^{[11][12][13][14]} have supported proposals for providing separate reservation for poor among forward castes. These parties have more than 400 members out of 542 members in existing parliament and ruling most of the states in India.

[edit] Timeline

• 1991- Congress Government headed by Narasimha Rao introduced 10% separate reservation for poor among forward castes.
• 1992 � Supreme court has ruled in Indra Sawhney case that separate reservation for poor among forward castes as invalid. Government has withdrawn separate reservation as per supreme court judgement.(Many other verdicts given in same case has been overruled by constitutional amendments like quota in promotions, Exceeding 50% reservations for Tamilnadu,Judgement regarding creamy layer in the same case was not implemented by Tamilnadu so far.)
• 2003 � BJP Government appointed Group of Ministers for suggesting measures for implementation of separate reservation for poor among forward castes. [9]
• 2004 - Task force has been setup to work out modalities for providing reservations to Poor among Forward castes.No information available regarding report submitted by this task force.[10]
• 2006 �Present Congress Government appointed commission to study separate reservation for economically backward classes.[11]
• 2006. Communist government in Kerala earmarked 12% seats in private professional colleges for economically poor among forward castes.[12]

[edit] Comparison with other communities

Over Represented or Under Represented or Equally represented?

Many backward class leaders allege forward castes are over represented in many spheres of life. State and central governments have not released adequate data regarding representation of various communities in their services and admissions to educational institutions.Most of the Private companies in India does not collect data regarding community of their employees.Very few reports are available regarding representation of various communities in Public/Private services and admissions in educational institutions.

Performance of Various communities in Tamilnadu(All percentages rounded off to nearest integer)

• • In Tamilnadu Forward Castes have secured around 1.9% of seats in Medical colleges in 2004 and 2.68 % seats in 2005 as against their population percentage of 13%.See Also Caste Based Reservations In Tamil Nadu.This trend of poor representation is continuting atleast for the last 10years as per lawyers contention in one of the Reservation case.[13]
  • 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.[14].
  • Karnataka Minister in state Assembly has announced that per capita income of the Brahmins is lesser than all communities including scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.[15]
  • Oversight committee in its final report has indicated that Forward castes are placed better than Backward castes in some indicators and comparable with Backward castes in few indicators and backward castes are superior in some parameters like Health indicators in states like Assam,Maharastra,Haryana,West bengal etc.[16]
  • National Survey 99-00 indicates that Forward castes are better placed than SC/ST in almost all parameters. However in rural unemployment,Forward castes score worser than all other communities.
  • Recently released Provisional report of National Survey 04-05 states that Buying capacity of Backward Classes in rural and urban areas are comparable to Forward Castes. It also revises Backward classes figure as 41%. It also states that Landownership of Backward classes are comparable to Forward Classes. It reiterates its earlier finding(in 99-00 survey) that Forward castes are poorly employed(More unemployment).[17]

Rural landholding pattern of various social groups calculated by National Sample Survey 99-00 indicate that OBC and Forward Castes are comparable in Wealthiness.)

• • 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 minor 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 National survey results point out that other backward classes are near average in many parameters.Please refer chart.[18]

[edit] Shrinking educational opportunities

During Apr 2006, India’s Human Resource Minister announced that 27% seats will be reserved exclusively for candidates from Other Backward Classes in addition to existing 22.5 % reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.[19] This announcement was done when polling process was underway in Tamilnadu and Kerala (States with highest backward caste population in India).[20] Incidentally many opinion polls at that time were predicting rout of ruling UDF alliance in these states.[21](UDF alliance subsequently won in Tamilnadu but lost in Kerala). Election commission reprimanded Human Resources Ministry for making such announcement when election process was in progress.[22]

Sachar committee report indicated that Hindu OBC's enrollment in all educational institutions is almost close to their populations as per national survey taken in 2004-05.(Page 93/425 of Sachar committee report).Union Human Resources minister appointed panel to study about sachar committee recommendations regarding Indian Muslims[8] but did not give his opinion on this subject.

Impact of announcement on Forward Castes.

After implementing OBC reservation, only 50% seats will be available in open competition. All communities can compete in open competition which means Forward castes will have to secure around 72-78% seats in open competition even to maintain their representation as per their estimated population of 36-39% whereas other communities will get major chunk of seats through exclusive reservations. This led to protests from their community members and supporters from other communities under the banner of Youth for Equality. They pointed out following as main reasons for their protests.[23]

• • Government is implementing reservations for more than 60 years for Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes whereas social and economical situation has not seen much improvement. It shows reservation in higher educational institutions is not the better way to achieve social equality.
  • Any difference between proportion of different communities in Higher educational institutions is mainly because of difference in primary school enrollment. (This fact was also confirmed in National sample surveys and pointed out by Oversight committee in its final report). Government should attack the cause instead of providing reservation at higher education level
  • Already 24% of college seats are with Other backward classes. Providing another 27% seats will deprive chances of Forward castes.
  • Reservation on the basis of caste is cornered only by rich and affluent. For example daughter of former President of India got admission into Indian Foreign Services denying opportunity to another poor person from her own community.

Certain indian states has Forward castes population of more than 50% or close to 50%.In some of these states,no.of forward castes admitted in educational institutions will be much less than their population even if they secure 100% seats in open competition.)

Interestingly Government of India decided to introduce 27% reservations for other backward classes all over India. Many states does not have even 27% of other backward class population as per national sample surveys.(This includes major Indian states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal).[24].Some Indian states like Assam, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal has more than 50% Forward Castes population [25]which means no. 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 classes to the areas with high tribal populations.[26].

[edit] References

[edit] See Also