RECOGNISING ADIVASI IDENTITY IN THE CENSUS

There is no column in the Census for the beliefs of Adivasis. This omission is unconstitutional

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The much-delayed gazette notification for the Census which is to be held in 2027, has been rightly criticised for a lack of clarity on the promised caste enumeration. But there is hardly any discussion on the long-standing demand of Adivasi/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities that their distinct identities, including systems of faith, be recognised as part of the Census.

The Census includes the religious demography of India through the registration of a person's religious beliefs. The religions mentioned are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. For those with other beliefs, there is a general column titled 'Other Religious Persuasion' (ORP). There is no column for the beliefs of STs. This omission is unconstitutional on several counts.

An unconstitutional move

The Constitution has specific provisions for the protection of the beliefs, customs, and traditions of STs, such as those reflected in the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. In addition, Articles 371A and 371B have specific protections for customary laws and practices in Nagaland and Assam, respectively.

Article 25 ensures the right to profess, practice, and propagate one's faith, and Article 26 guarantees the right to manage religious affairs. For STs, these rights must translate into recognition of distinct faith-based beliefs and practices centred on nature worship and ancestral traditions, in every general legal and policy framework, including the Census. The restriction in the Census to six religions or the ambiguous ORP category violates the spirit of Article 25 as it compels STs to misidentify with mainstream faiths or be relegated to a catch-all category, which is the ORP.