Akhilesh Pushes for Caste Column in Voter Revision Amid India’s Efforts to Move Beyond Caste Divisions
At a time when India is striving to erase the centuries-old stigma of caste and foster unity, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has stirred debate by demanding the inclusion of a caste column in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, beginning November 4.
Instead of supporting ongoing efforts to bring society together, Yadav has called for inserting caste details in the SIR form—an exercise he described as a “preliminary caste census” under the Election Commission’s voter-list update process.
Speaking in Lucknow, the former Chief Minister argued that documenting caste would help shape government schemes and ensure “social justice,” despite nationwide concerns that such proposals may deepen social divides rather than heal them.
Yadav, while marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary, vowed to form a government rooted in “Samajik Nyay (social justice)” in 2027 and promised a modern university in Patel’s name if voted to power.
He reiterated his longstanding demand for caste-based data and claimed that not a single Booth Level Officer appointed for the SIR exercise belonged to PDA communities (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak).
Caste System in India: A Legacy That Still Hurts
The caste system, one of the world’s most persistent social hierarchies, has shaped India’s socio-cultural fabric for thousands of years.
Originally linked to the division of labor and social order, it gradually evolved into a rigid and discriminatory structure that dictated occupation, social status, access to resources, and even basic human dignity.
ill-effects of the caste system include:
Social discrimination & exclusion: Communities historically labeled “lower caste” often faced segregation in public spaces, denial of education, and exclusion from temples, water sources, and community life.
Economic inequality: Limited access to land, skilled jobs, and education trapped marginalized groups in generational poverty, while the upper castes enjoyed structural advantages.
Violence & oppression: From untouchability to caste-based violence, honor killings, and atrocities—caste identity has been misused as a tool of dominance and humiliation.
Psychological trauma & social stigma: Generations of Indians have lived with imposed labels that affected confidence, dignity, self-worth, and social mobility.
Political polarization: While affirmative action has uplifted millions, the use of caste for electoral gains often inflames divisions instead of healing them.
Moving Forward
Modern India has made significant strides through constitutional protections, reservations, education, and social reform.
The nation today aspires to rise above caste labels and build a society rooted in equality, dignity, and shared progress.
Policies should uplift the deprived and dismantle discrimination—but with sensitivity and unity, not renewed caste segmentation.
The challenge is balancing social justice with social harmony
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