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By:

Kreeanne Rabadi

15 November 2024 at 5:06:45 am

More Than Caregivers

Representational image Now that the hype around Mother’s Day has come and gone by (wrapped in predictable imagery - flowers, gratitude posts, and carefully worded tributes) it is time to appreciate the role mothers especially those from underprivileged backgrounds playing in reshaping the future through education. This is not a symbolic contribution but a quiet revolution happening, unseen. Consider Prabhas’ mother. Her reality was unforgiving. She sells balloons at the busy traffic signal...

More Than Caregivers

Representational image Now that the hype around Mother’s Day has come and gone by (wrapped in predictable imagery - flowers, gratitude posts, and carefully worded tributes) it is time to appreciate the role mothers especially those from underprivileged backgrounds playing in reshaping the future through education. This is not a symbolic contribution but a quiet revolution happening, unseen. Consider Prabhas’ mother. Her reality was unforgiving. She sells balloons at the busy traffic signal in the Shivajinagar area of Pune for Rs 200–300 a day, alongwith her children to support the family. In such a situation, sending a child to school is not a simple moral decision but an economic risk. It means choosing long-term possibility over immediate survival. And yet, she chose education. Her decision did not come easily. It was shaped through exposure, through conversations, through watching her son slowly transform and becoming curious, confident and eager to learn. Prabhas is a 10-year-old boy whose family migrated from Ahmednagar district in North Maharashtra to Phule Nagar slums in Pune a few years ago. He along with his parents and two elder sisters sold balloons at the traffic signals nearby. A visit to the CRY education centre along with his mother changed his life. Here the mother heard about the importance of education and started visiting the centre regularly where she saw Prabhas playing, learning and actively participating in the centre’s activities. She began noticing changes in him and his growing interest in learning as well as an increase in his confidence. When the CRY team explained to her the various educational facilities available here free of cost and that her child’s future could change through education her mindset began to shift. Despite the financial challenges, she finally made a strong decision to send her child to school. What changed was not just Prabhas’ routine, but his trajectory. On his first day of school, his words were “I am going to school again!” These words carried a sense of hope. That moment existed for him because a mother made a very important decision despite everything going against her. Similarly consider the case of Soni Sukale from Pune’s Ekta Nagar. Married young, her education had stopped at 8th grade and like many women in similar circumstances, her life quickly narrowed to taking up household responsibilities. But what stood out was her return to studies. After long days of domestic work, she carved out time to learn again. No dramatic declarations, no shortcuts, just constant persistence. When she passed her 10th class exams with 53.40%, it was more than a result. It was a statement that education is not bound by age, circumstance, or past decisions. Today, as she prepares for her 12th exams and dreams of working in an office, Soni represents a growing number of women who have shifted their mindset to that of mere resignation to taking sole agency of one’s life. Then there is Sehnaz Ibrahim Harnal orginally from Shindgi taluka in Vijaypur, Karnataka who migrated to Pune years ago. If resilience had a daily routine, it would look like her life. Managing a household of five, working in multiple homes, navigating financial instability, and dealing with her husband’s alcoholism, Sehnaz who lives in the slums of Wadar Wasti near Vishratwadi in Pune, has many challenges yet, her clarity is unwavering. She wants her children to stay in school. There is something profoundly powerful in her quiet assertion, “We are struggling, but my children should not have to live like this,” she says time and again. Again for Sehnaz, it is not just an aspiration but a route towards a better future. What ties these stories together is not charity, luck or coincidence but decision-making. These mothers are not passive recipients of change but are active agents driving it. They are choosing education repeatedly, in small, difficult and often invisible ways. When underprivileged mothers prioritise education they are doing what any system should have done before them, provide access. Access to education is something that continues to evade a lot of mothers and their children even today. And this Mother’s Day, perhaps this needs to be looked at. Instead of limiting appreciation to sentiment we should recognize the deeper transformation underway. Mothers like these are not just raising children, they are disrupting cycles of poverty, challenging generational limitations and redefining what is possible within constrained circumstances. They are not waiting for change. They are creating it—quietly, persistently and with remarkable clarity. And if we are serious about celebrating mothers, then the real tribute lies not just in acknowledging their sacrifices, but in understanding their vision and ensuring that the systems around them finally rise to meet it. This means schools that are not only accessible but reliable—where teachers are present, classrooms are safe, and learning is taken seriously. (The writer is Western Region Director, Child Rights and You, an NGO. Views personal.)

Caste-based Census Sparks Nationwide Debate

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Caste-based Census

Caste-based identities continue to dominate rural India, directly or indirectly shaping electoral outcomes. Many major elections are influenced by specific caste groups. After the Bihar government released the first phase of its caste-based socio-economic survey, the caste census became a hot topic. The results, backed by evidence, showed improvements in the living standards and social status of marginalised communities, both in cities and villages. With parties like the JDU and NCP backing a caste census, there is growing momentum for the government to conduct one. However, every story has two sides—joy and sorrow. Even Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, raised concerns about the caste census.

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of being “anti-Bahujan.” The clear meaning is that his father and forefather refused to execute a caste-based census, which might have far-reaching effects and even permanently fracture India’s social fabric. This may be negative for caste-based beneficiaries. The last caste census in India was conducted in 1931 by the British government. Those times were different from the present scenario. The data was made public and became the basis for the Mandal Commission Reports and reservation policies for Other Backward Classes. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has clarified that the caste-based population count data will not be used for core politics. But the agenda for politics is always twisted and expanded.

The Central Government also joined the legal debate by filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court, leaving the matter unresolved. India’s partition, rooted in the divide-and-rule strategy, is frequently cited as a cautionary tale. Including caste in official census data could further deepen social divides. This issue has become a political pressure point, with various states pushing the Centre for action. Although the Constitution uses the term “class” instead of “caste,” the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that caste is a relevant, and at times, sole or dominant criterion for defining a backward class.

After the release of caste-based census data in Bihar, discussions around conducting similar censuses have gained momentum in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Karnataka, which has already conducted its own caste census, may release its data soon as well.

Notably, all these states are governed by anti-BJP parties. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also announced that Congress-ruled states have committed to carrying out caste censuses. Meanwhile, the BJP has remained silent on the matter, creating a significant roadblock.

Caste-based censuses focus on proportional representation in areas like jobs and education, with the argument that this will aid in targeted planning for the disadvantaged. However, the situation remains unclear, much like a foggy winter morning. The BJP’s stance on caste-based censuses and reservations seems different, as they fear the caste-based calculations could fragment their traditional Hindu voter base—an underlying concern for the party.

Professor Sanjay Kumar from The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says, “Let alone the BJP; no party can openly oppose it; it is not free from danger. BJP gets a large number of votes from the OBC community, their population across the country would be around 52%. Another downside is that the caste-based censuses could disrupt the balance of socio-economic zones. Data theft is a common issue in government systems, and people may feel disconnected from their actual rights.

The moot question is that if the financial status of an ST/SC/OBC or Dalit citizen moves up by a few notches, will his social status change automatically? The lifestyle of any class will only change when the income of a particular class is changed. The actual source of income is employment. The reality is that only metro cities have enough place and space for workers. Aside from the GIDC and IT sectors, less than 30% of industries have their own designated vacancy periods. After a decade, the Jamnagar and Rajkot Corporations have opened their doors to newcomers alongside experienced staff. However, age and caste bias often operate behind the scenes. It’s important to recognise that poverty is also widespread among many upper-caste individuals, and their needs cannot be overlooked. In the overall interests of the nation, terms like SC/ST/OBC, Dalits, etc. must be deleted from the nation’s vocabulary. Every citizen should have only one classification, that of being an ‘Indian’, in the spirit of the constitution.

Last year, when the Bihar government decided to conduct a caste survey in the state, the BJP was also Nitish Kumar’s partner in the state government, and it supported it. Political expert and former professor of Tata Institute of Social Science, Pushpendra Kumar, says, “It is not that the BJP does not talk about caste. It tries to reveal the caste of the Prime Minister as well. For caste politics, the BJP also tried hard to raise the issue of Pasmanda Muslims.”

(The writer is a management professional based in Ahmedabad. Views personal.)

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