Forgotten Futures: Elderly in Karnataka's Old Age Homes 'Orphaned' Again by Caste Census Exclusion

In a deeply concerning oversight, Karnataka's much-anticipated caste census has inadvertently created a new layer of vulnerability for the state's elderly residents living in old age homes. Already detached from their familial roots, these individuals are now facing the prospect of being 'orphaned' a second time – this time from crucial demographic data collection that could determine their access to vital reservation benefits and social welfare.

The root of the problem lies in the design of the ongoing caste census, which primarily focuses on household enumeration.

While this approach is effective for the majority of the population, it critically overlooks those residing in institutional settings like old age homes, rehabilitation centers, and orphanages. As enumerators meticulously go door-to-door, the collective residences of the elderly remain largely unaddressed, leaving thousands of senior citizens invisible to the very system meant to identify and uplift backward communities.

Social activists and concerned officials from the Welfare Department are sounding the alarm, highlighting the profound implications of this exclusion.

For many, caste certificates are not just pieces of paper; they are gateways to educational opportunities, employment quotas, and various state-sponsored schemes designed to bridge socio-economic disparities. Without proper enumeration in the caste census, these elderly individuals, many of whom are already marginalized, risk being permanently cut off from these entitlements, effectively denying them their constitutional rights.

“It's a heartbreaking situation,” remarks a prominent social worker, “Many residents in old age homes have lost their families or have been abandoned.

To now be excluded from a census that aims to ensure social justice is to abandon them once more.” The sentiment underscores a fundamental flaw in the current census methodology – one that fails to adapt to the diverse living arrangements of a modern society.

The Karnataka Social Welfare Department acknowledges the gravity of the issue.

While the census's primary phase focuses on household data collection, there is a growing consensus that a special, targeted drive is imperative to include these institutional populations. This would involve specific protocols and trained personnel capable of interacting with the residents of old age homes, ensuring their data is accurately collected and integrated into the broader census findings.

The stakes are high.

An accurate and comprehensive caste census is vital for informed policy-making, ensuring that welfare schemes are truly reaching those who need them most. The exclusion of the elderly in old age homes not only skews demographic data but also perpetuates their marginalization. As the state progresses with its significant data collection effort, the call for immediate intervention to include these forgotten citizens grows louder, urging authorities to ensure that no one, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind in the pursuit of social equity.