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Computing Backward Index PDF Print E-mail

Creating an Index or a set of indices that can objectively provide a measure of status of Backwards.

Such an Index may have following characteristics.

  1. It should be easy to understand by common citizens. Then only it will create desired pressure on judiciary and the State. Current opaque situation confuses the common man.
  2. It should be easy to compute, so the State and administration will not have any excuse for not implementing.
  3. It should have a support from similar indices scheme of the well-known authorities such as UNDP, Planning Commission or National Sample Survey etc.
  4. If required, it should be possible for any organization (Political Party, NGO, Citizen’s groups etc.) to undertake computation of such indices on the small scale in their sphere of influence. It will help to create pressure on Govt. to undertake such measures and operate as an audit check.
  5. Most importantly, it should be capable of providing analytical inputs to the State, for it to monitor its program.
  6. The management science says that in order to control, one must be able to measure. Then only the process becomes visible and transparent.

Parameters or Dimensions.

The proposed model computes the proportion of backwards under following categories. The Index may be computed for every individual caste or for a group of castes.
This model represents the Indian power structure at various levels. The affirmative action program essentially empowers the target population, SC, ST & OBCs in the context of reservations. Success of the affirmative action will be reflected by the indices.

Executive (Political) Power (Elected or Political Nominees).

  1. President, Vice-President, Speaker, Prime Minister & Chief Justice of Supreme Court.
  2. (This being a small data set, this could be computed as a cumulative index since 1947.)
  3. Chief Ministers, Governors, Central Cabinet Ministers & Chiefs of National Commissions (e.g. Planning Commission), Municipal Corporation Mayors.
  4. Presidents or Chiefs of District & City Councils.

Judiciary.

  1. Supreme Court Judges & Chief Justices of High Courts.
  2. High Court Judges & Chiefs of City & District Courts.

Administrative Services.

  1. Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries in the Ministries at Centre and Chief Secretaries of States.
  2. Secretaries in the State Ministries, Collectors, Deputy Collectors and Commissioners (Municipalities and various Authorities).

Finance, Industry & Business.

  1. Governors, Deputy Governors of RBI, Chairmen, MDs of all Scheduled Banks, Chiefs of Financial Corporations (e.g. LIC, UTI etc.) & Chiefs of PSUs.
  2. Directors & General Managers of all above institutions.

Education.

  1. Chiefs (Deans, Principals, Directors etc.) of Universities, IIMs, IITs and Premier Academic/Research/Professional Institutes.
  2. Principals of Premier Arts, Commerce, Science & Engineering Colleges.

Culture.

  1. Authors, Writers, Poets, Artists (Painting, Music, Dance, Sculpture etc.) recognized at Centre & State levels.
  2. Members of various Academies/Councils created to promote Art & Cultural and recognized by Central and/or State Governments.

Reverse View.

  1. It is possible to asses the status of backwards by computing the proportion of upper castes (elites) in the vocations, traditionally assigned to backwards:
  2. Conservatory Departments (garbage collection & maintaining cleanliness) of Municipalities, Local Bodies, Corporate Bodies (large/small, private/public etc.).
  3. Scavengers, Beggars and Rag Pickers.
  4. Fourth Class Employees in Govt., PSUs and Corporate Sector.
  5. Manual Labour, Contract/Daily Wage Workers, Hawkers etc.
  6. Rural Dwellers.
    There are such umpteen categories denoting the lowest socio-economic status populated totally and only by backwards.

Maintenance of Model.

  1. This is a very simple and manageable model. It simply takes a quantitative measure of backwards (proportion) in various categories specified above. Only restriction is to confine to a category as it attempts to compute representative index.
  2. It may be noted that any single category would broadly represent the status correctly.
  3. These proportions under any of the above category will be the indices of status of respective castes or group of castes.
  4. Adding more categories will definitely improve the index, which is the weighted average of all category specific indices.
  5. The composite index’s representativeness may be further improved by assigning different weightages to different categories.
  6. However, from social (micro) engineering point of view, it will give a more detailed picture of the status and will provide inputs for taking precise corrective actions.
  7. Experts from Social Sciences & Quantitative Estimation may help to fine tune and perfect the model by scientifically designing the categories, weights and computation algorithms. Human Development Reports (HDRs) of UNDP has already proved the effectiveness, utility and relevance of several such societal indices.

Construction.

  1. Index should be computed by the State by the act of Parliament, providing Constitutional authority.
  2. The data necessary for this is not massive as it confines to the top echelon of the Power Structure. As compared to the size of data UNDP processes for HDR, it is substantially small.
  3. With the tremendous power of Information Technology, it should be very easy and quick to compute the indices, once the scheme is implemented.
  4. Model can be further detailed and improved by incorporating other attributes such as income level, region and other classifications so that it can create analytical inputs for Budgeting & Planning exercises as well as various sociological and anthropological research projects. However, Caste enumeration in Census is necessary for such exercises.
  5. Annual Updating.
  6. It should be a regular annual activity of declaring and publishing the indices, as UNDP publishes HDR every year.
  7. Caste or group of castes should continue to get the preferential support till its Index reaches 100.
  8. Depending on the changes in the Index value, state will be able to modify its support scheme to achieve the maximum benefits.