The findings about the conditions of the religious minorities and Dalits since Modi assumed office in 2014, are similar to that in extending facilities to the poor - a matter of positive perception. Almost half of the people feel that the condition of religious minorities has improved in the last five years. This score has gone up by 15 per cent points over the earlier MOTN survey of January 2019. But, this improvement in score is relatively low amongst non-Hindus. Forty-six per cent of the people that condition of Dalits has improved since 2014 and this score has gone up by 11 per cent from the earlier MOTN Survey of January 2019.
Altering these perceptions is partly propelled by the initiatives in the states. Thrice in the past five years, Maharashtra had attempted to include Marathas into the Socially and Educationally Backward Communities though it was repeatedly struck down by courts. It finally happened in June this year. In another BJP - ruled state, the most populous Uttar Pradesh, the government has attempted to extend the benefits available to Scheduled Castes to 17 castes listed under the Other Backward Classes though this too has no legal basis. It is also triggering a call for a paradigm shift - the Supreme Court is now examining a public interest petition which says a community should be granted reservation based on its population in a state and not in the entire country as is the current practice. This coupled with India's shifting population profile points to future demographic shocks.
