Caste census begins across Karnataka, Bengaluru on hold
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Bengaluru: The controversial Socio-Economic and Academic Survey, popularly referred to as the caste census, commenced across Karnataka on Monday, except in Bengaluru, where it will start after a brief delay due to technical reasons.
The Karnataka government has announced that the comprehensive Socio-Economic and Educational Survey will be carried out between September 22 and October 7, coinciding with the Dusshera holidays. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday appealed to all citizens of the state to actively participate in the exercise.
According to Siddaramaiah, the survey will be conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission between September 22 and October 7. Around 1.75 lakh teachers will be deployed for the task, each receiving an honorarium of up to ₹20,000. The total cost of teacher honorariums alone is estimated at ₹325 crore. An initial budget of ₹420 crore has been earmarked for the project, with provision for additional funds if required.
The Commission has prepared a questionnaire of 60 questions, which residents must answer in writing. Aadhaar numbers will also be collected to avoid duplication of responses.
Backward Classes Commission Chairman Madhusudhan Naik said that while the panel was ready to launch the survey statewide from September 22, the exercise in Bengaluru has been postponed at the request of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) due to administrative reasons. He explained that GBA staff need additional training. Although the first round of training has been completed, further sessions are still underway. As new districts have been formed under the GBA, the survey in Bengaluru will be delayed by two to three days.
Highlighting the importance of the exercise, Siddaramaiah stated: “We know that special efforts are necessary to eradicate backwardness, poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. In this context, under the chairmanship of Madhusudhan R. Naik, the Commission will conduct a survey to understand the social and educational status of the seven crore people in the state.”
He added that the Backward Classes Commission is expected to submit its report by December. “In 2015, the Commission’s then chairman, Kantaraj, had submitted a report. Since ten years have passed since that report, it was decided to conduct a new survey, and the responsibility has now been handed over to the permanent Backward Classes Commission,” he said.
The survey has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called the exercise an “attempt to divide Hinduism” and labelled it an “anti-people survey.”
Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka lashed out at the Congress-led government, remarking: “There are many castes in society, and inequalities still exist due to differences. The Constitution provides equal opportunities to all. It states that social justice should be provided to everyone. As Dr Ambedkar said, when the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, we were stepping into a society full of disparities.”
Accusing the government of using the survey to divide communities, Ashoka alleged: “People from all castes have opposed conversion. Names like Kuruba, Brahmin, Vishwakarma, etc., have been prefixed with ‘Christian’. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is a Christian, and this is being done to please her. If someone says they are from Pakistan or do not believe in the Constitution, will they write it down as is? If it’s a socio-educational survey, why mention caste names in it? Under the guidance of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, they are dividing Hindus.”
He further urged ministers who oppose the survey to resign instead of merely issuing statements. “If they do this, the caste communities will not forgive the ministers,” Ashoka warned.
With IANS inputs