High-Level Committee Requests Religion-Specific Data from States
State governments struggle to provide requested demographic data as a high-level committee seeks detailed religion-wise statistics.
The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes is seeking 15 years of religion-wise data across various categories.
State officials cite constitutional constraints on collecting religion-based data as a significant challenge.
The committee aims to understand demographic shifts related to illegal immigration and other factors.
A high-level committee tasked with studying demographic changes has encountered significant challenges as state governments struggle to provide the requested data. The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC), established by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 26, is seeking detailed religion-wise statistics on various aspects, including birth and vehicle registrations, school enrolments, and property transactions over the past 15 years.
State officials have reported that the 35 questions posed by the HLCDC are difficult to answer due to the secular nature of the Indian Constitution, which restricts the collection of data categorized by religion. While birth registrations include the religion of the newborn, comprehensive data on other categories remains largely unavailable. The committee has specifically requested information on Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Parsis, and Buddhists across all categories.
One of the HLCDC's inquiries focuses on unusual school enrolment trends in districts that do not align with historical birth rates. Additionally, the committee seeks data on religious structures established in the last 15 years, including any technological methods used for their identification. The committee's extensive questionnaire also covers voter registration data, particularly for individuals lacking prior-generation birth certificates, and seeks to understand changes in religious composition in various regions, including urban centers and tribal areas.
The implications of this data collection are significant for understanding demographic shifts in India, particularly concerning Scheduled Tribe populations and the potential impact of illegal immigration. The committee's findings could influence policy decisions and legislative measures aimed at addressing these changes. Furthermore, the HLCDC is gathering information on detention centers and the identification of undocumented migrants, which may lead to increased scrutiny of immigration policies.
As the committee continues its work, it plans to visit Maharashtra next, following its recent trip to the Jammu region. However, delays in data provision from state governments and the Election Commission of India may hinder the committee's progress. The HLCDC's efforts to compile this comprehensive data set are crucial for addressing the complexities of demographic changes in India.
