The Anglo-Indian community in India, represented by its leaders, has called upon the central government to reinstate reserved seats for Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) and State Assemblies.

Issues Raised by the Anglo-Indian Community

• Restoration of Reserved Seats: Leaders urge the government to restore reserved seats for Anglo-Indians in Parliament and State Assemblies, a provision previously removed due to low population data.
• Request for Caste Census: Leaders call for a caste census to accurately count Anglo-Indians, asserting that their population is closer to 400,000, not the 296 suggested by outdated data from the 2011 Census.
• Economic and Educational Challenges: The Anglo-Indian community faces significant economic and educational hardships, as highlighted in a 2013 Ministry of Minority Affairs study, which reported issues like housing struggles and identity crises.
• Loss of Influence in Community Institutions: Former MP Charles Dias noted Anglo-Indians’ declining control over institutions they built, with challenges in admissions and employment.

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• Appeal for Commission and Separate Enumeration: Leaders seek a government commission to assess their community’s socio-economic status and call for separate enumeration in the next census.

About Anglo-Indian Community

• Origins: The Anglo-Indian community in India originated from an official policy by the British East India Company, which encouraged marriages between its officers and local women.
• Definition:The term “Anglo-Indian” first appeared in the Government of India Act, 1935.
  • Article 366 (2) of the Constitution of India defines an Anglo-Indian as:
    • A person whose father or male ancestors are of European descent.
    • Domiciled within Indian territory, born to parents habitually resident in India (not temporarily present).
• Community Contributions:The community has made significant contributions to Indian society, especially in fields such as education, railways, and the armed forces.
• Cultural Identity: Anglo-Indians maintain a distinct cultural identity, with elements of both Western and Indian influences, including in language, cuisine, and customs.

Constitutional Provisions for Anglo-Indian Reservation

• Article 331: Permits the President to nominate two Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha if the community lacks adequate representation.
• Article 333: Allows a State Governor to nominate one Anglo-Indian to the State Assembly if the community is underrepresented.
• Article 334(b): Extended Anglo-Indian reservations in legislative bodies for 40 years from 1949.
• National Commission for SCs (Article 338): Examines constitutional and legal safeguards for Anglo-Indians, reporting their effectiveness to the President.

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Historical Context of Reservation

• Constituent Assembly Intent: Initially, the Constituent Assembly envisioned a 10-year reservation for SCs/STs starting in 1950.
• Amendments to Article 334: This article, which set timelines for SC/ST and Anglo-Indian reservations, was repeatedly amended to extend deadlines, starting with the 8th Amendment (1969) and ending with the 104th Amendment (2019).
• 104th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019: Ended Anglo-Indian reservations and set 2030 as the final year for SC/ST reservations in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, concluding an 80-year period since 1950.