Sarna Religion

Why in news?

• Jharkhand Assembly passed a resolution for the provision of a separate ‘Sarna Code’ for tribals.
• The resolution will seek a special column for followers of the ‘Sarna’ religion in the Census 2021.

What is the Sarna religion?

• The followers of Sarna faith believe pray to nature.
• The holy grail of the faith is “Jal, Jungle, Zameen” and its followers pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas.
• Tribals in Jharkhand have long been demanding a separate Sarna religious code in the Census.
• Under the Census 2001, there were six options under the religion column — Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh
• It is believed that 50 lakhs tribal in the entire country put their religion as ‘Sarna’ in the 2011 census, although it was not a code.
• Between 1871 and 1951, the tribals had a different code for their religion.
• However, it was changed around 1961-62 resulting in Tribals having to record their religion separately or in other religions.

The need for the code:

• Jharkhand has 32 tribal groups of which eight are from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
• The population of tribals in the state had declined from the 38.3 per cent in 1931 to 26.02 per cent in 2011.
• One of the reasons for this was tribals who go for work in different states not being recorded in the Census. In other states, they are not counted as Tribals.
• It added that the separate code will ensure recording of their population.
• It will also help protect constitutional rights given to them especially those under 5th Schedule of the Constitution.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding Census in India: 
1.It is conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
2.It has been conducted uninterrupted decennially since 1881.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

 Answer to prelims question