OBC Muslims languish at the bottom of job pyramid
On occupation, even the top 20% of Muslim OBCs are the most downtrodden and virtually at the bottom of the pyramid with the highest proportion of blue-collar workers compared to OBCs (non-Muslims) and the general (non-SC/ST) category.
By Shailesh Dobhal, TNN |
NEW DELHI: If ever there was a case to extend reservations to the weaker sections of minorities in India, whether in education or jobs, it is now. Take Muslims of Other Backward Classes (OBC), which accounts for 9.1 % of total OBC population and 4.1% of total Indian population for instance. On occupation, even the top 20% of Muslim OBCs are the most downtrodden and virtually at the bottom of the pyramid with the highest proportion of blue-collar workers compared to OBCs (non-Muslims) and the general (non-SC/ST) category. And what’ worse, they have the lowest representation in white-collar jobs such as professionals and clerical workers. For the bottom 20% of Muslim OBC, lesser said the better.
In this fourth part of the ET series in partnership with NCAER’s senior fellow Rajesh Shukla, we dissect the National Sample Survey data (NSS, 55th round 1999-’00) on OBC (Muslim), OBC (non-Muslim) and general category on occupation segments. The NSS 1999-’00 round takes National Classification of Occupations (NCO), 1968 definition to arrive at these occupation segments across castes and religion.
Even amongst the top 20% of Muslim OBCs, economically most prosperous, just about 5.9% are engaged as professionals compared to 9.8% for non-Muslim OBCs and 14.14% for the general category. For clerical & related jobs, Muslim OBCs are again scrapping the bottom with a population share of just 3.4% compared to 9.33% for non-Muslim OBCs and 11.9% for the general populace. The only saving grace amongst all white collar jobs is administrative & executive jobs where muslim OBCs score better at 8% versus 6% for non-muslim OBCs.
Amongst the lowest paid production & transport jobs, the top 20% muslim OBCs have highest representation, 26.2%, compared to 25.3% for non-Muslim OBCs and just 16.6% for the general category. Even for entry-level service economy jobs such as waiters, cooks, hairdressers et al (service workers according to NCO), Muslim OBCs are worse off compared to non-Muslim OBCs —5.3% and 6.4% respectively.
The only occupation where the top 20% Muslim OBCs score above both non-Muslim OBCs and the general category are shopkeepers, merchants etc (defined as sales workers by NCO), with a share of 15.8%, 8.6% and 12% respectively. Though it is anyone’s guess that most of them here are petty traders and hawkers barely managing to eke out a living. For the bottom 20%, Muslim OBCs have the highest representation in production & transport workers, 25% versus non-Muslim OBCs at 13%. And lowest in administrative & executive workers (0.6% versus 1%) and clerical & related workers (0.4% versus 0.6%).
In this fourth part of the ET series in partnership with NCAER’s senior fellow Rajesh Shukla, we dissect the National Sample Survey data (NSS, 55th round 1999-’00) on OBC (Muslim), OBC (non-Muslim) and general category on occupation segments. The NSS 1999-’00 round takes National Classification of Occupations (NCO), 1968 definition to arrive at these occupation segments across castes and religion.
Even amongst the top 20% of Muslim OBCs, economically most prosperous, just about 5.9% are engaged as professionals compared to 9.8% for non-Muslim OBCs and 14.14% for the general category. For clerical & related jobs, Muslim OBCs are again scrapping the bottom with a population share of just 3.4% compared to 9.33% for non-Muslim OBCs and 11.9% for the general populace. The only saving grace amongst all white collar jobs is administrative & executive jobs where muslim OBCs score better at 8% versus 6% for non-muslim OBCs.
Amongst the lowest paid production & transport jobs, the top 20% muslim OBCs have highest representation, 26.2%, compared to 25.3% for non-Muslim OBCs and just 16.6% for the general category. Even for entry-level service economy jobs such as waiters, cooks, hairdressers et al (service workers according to NCO), Muslim OBCs are worse off compared to non-Muslim OBCs —5.3% and 6.4% respectively.
The only occupation where the top 20% Muslim OBCs score above both non-Muslim OBCs and the general category are shopkeepers, merchants etc (defined as sales workers by NCO), with a share of 15.8%, 8.6% and 12% respectively. Though it is anyone’s guess that most of them here are petty traders and hawkers barely managing to eke out a living. For the bottom 20%, Muslim OBCs have the highest representation in production & transport workers, 25% versus non-Muslim OBCs at 13%. And lowest in administrative & executive workers (0.6% versus 1%) and clerical & related workers (0.4% versus 0.6%).
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