SOCIO ECONOMIC CASTE CENSUS AND POVERTY

The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is a comprehensive exercise carried out in India to collect detailed data on the socio-economic status and caste identities of households across the country. The SECC plays a crucial role in poverty estimation and helps to inform policies aimed at improving the welfare of the poor and marginalized communities.

What is the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)?

The SECC was first conducted in 2011-2012, and it represented a significant shift in India’s approach to understanding poverty and socio-economic conditions. The census was intended to gather data on multiple dimensions of socio-economic deprivation, which could then be used to better target government schemes and welfare programs. This was the first time that such a wide-scale data collection on socio-economic indicators was combined with information on caste.

The SECC was conducted by the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, with assistance from state governments. The census covered over 24 crore (240 million) households across the country, both in rural and urban areas.

Objectives of the SECC

1. Targeting Welfare Programs: The SECC aimed to help governments at both the central and state levels accurately target welfare programs and subsidies to the neediest sections of society. By identifying households based on their socio-economic characteristics, the SECC data was meant to ensure that government resources were directed to those who need them the most.
2. Measuring Deprivation: Unlike traditional poverty measures that rely mainly on income or consumption data, the SECC aimed to measure multi-dimensional deprivation, looking at a household’s access to education, healthcare, housing, employment, and other key services.
3. Caste Data: The SECC also aimed to collect comprehensive data on caste. This was particularly important in India, where caste plays a significant role in social stratification and access to opportunities. Although the caste data has not been publicly released due to political sensitivities, the information was intended to aid in understanding the socio-economic conditions of different caste groups.
4. Inclusive Growth: The ultimate goal of the SECC was to promote inclusive growth by ensuring that government programs effectively address the needs of the poorest and most marginalized communities in both rural and urban areas.

Key Indicators of the SECC

The SECC gathered data on the following broad categories:

1. Housing: Whether the household lived in a pucca (permanent) or kutcha (temporary) house, access to basic amenities like electricity and sanitation, type of roofing, etc.
2. Assets: Ownership of assets like television, refrigerator, mobile phone, motor vehicle, and agricultural land.
3. Education: Level of educational attainment of household members.
4. Employment: Type of employment, whether in the formal or informal sector, and the nature of work (e.g., manual labor).
5. Caste/Tribe: Self-reported caste and tribe status.
6. Vulnerabilities: Data on vulnerable sections of society, such as households led by women, people with disabilities, or the elderly.

How SECC Helps in Measuring Poverty

The SECC was a significant shift from traditional income-based poverty measurements, such as those relying on consumption surveys. It recognized that poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, influenced by various factors such as education, employment, social status, and access to basic services.

Deprivation Indicators in SECC

The SECC categorized households based on deprivation in the following areas:

• Households without a proper roof.
• Households without an adult earning member.
• Households headed by women or disabled persons.
• Households where no one in the family has completed education above a certain level (e.g., class 5).
• Households relying on manual casual labor.

The more deprivation a household experienced across these dimensions, the higher its poverty score, allowing the government to target its resources more effectively.

Example of SECC in Practice

Rural Household Example:

Consider a rural household in a village in Bihar:

• The household lives in a kutcha house with no permanent roof.
• The head of the household is a woman who has no formal education.
• The family relies on manual casual labor in agriculture, which is seasonal and pays very low wages.
• The household does not have access to basic sanitation and still uses firewood for cooking.
• None of the family members own assets like a refrigerator, motorbike, or television.

Based on these indicators, the SECC would categorize this household as highly deprived, making them eligible for various government schemes aimed at poverty alleviation, such as housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), employment support under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and health benefits under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.

Urban Household Example:

An urban slum household in Delhi:

• The family lives in a one-room tenement in a crowded slum with poor sanitation and no regular electricity.
• The primary earner in the family is a daily wage laborer who works in construction but does not have a steady income.
• The children in the family do not attend school regularly due to financial constraints and the need to contribute to household income.
• The family does not own any significant assets and lacks access to affordable healthcare services.

In this case, the SECC data would identify the family as deprived across multiple dimensions—housing, employment, education, and health. Based on this, they could be included in government programs that provide housing, educational scholarships, healthcare, and food security support.

Impact of SECC on Poverty Reduction

The SECC has had a substantial impact on how poverty alleviation programs are designed and implemented in India. The data collected through the SECC has helped in identifying the most vulnerable households and ensuring that they receive priority access to social welfare programs. This has been especially useful for programs like:

• Public Distribution System (PDS): Ensuring that food subsidies reach the most deprived households.
• PMAY: Providing affordable housing to those without proper shelter.
• MGNREGA: Offering guaranteed employment to households dependent on casual manual labor.
• Ayushman Bharat: Providing health insurance to households deprived of access to healthcare services.

Challenges and Criticisms of SECC

1. Caste Data: One of the most controversial aspects of the SECC has been the collection of caste data. Despite the data being collected, it has not been publicly released, leading to criticism from various quarters who argue that caste-based data is essential for addressing social inequalities and ensuring affirmative action policies are targeted effectively.
2. Data Accuracy: Critics have raised concerns about the accuracy of the SECC data, particularly in relation to identifying the socio-economic status of households. There have been instances where households were wrongly categorized as either poor or non-poor due to errors in data collection.
3. Non-Income Indicators: While the SECC focuses on multi-dimensional poverty, it does not capture income and consumption data, which are still important indicators of poverty. Critics argue that the lack of income data could lead to an incomplete picture of poverty.
4. Outdated Information: Given that the SECC was conducted in 2011-12, the data is now outdated, and there have been calls for a new round of SECC to reflect the current socio-economic conditions.

Conclusion The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) represents a shift in how poverty is understood and measured in India. By focusing on multi-dimensional deprivation, the SECC goes beyond traditional income-based measures to offer a more nuanced understanding of poverty, particularly in the context of India’s rural and urban divides. Despite its challenges, the SECC has been instrumental in guiding targeted poverty alleviation efforts, helping millions of deprived households access vital government support and services. Moving forward, updating the SECC data and incorporating the caste data in policy decisions could further enhance its impact on poverty reduction and social equity in India.