Karnataka Cabinet approves Caste Census, discussions on April 17

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, also known as the caste census. The cabinet has scheduled a special meeting for discussions on the matter on April 17.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “Some ministers said they want to go through the recommendations first. For this reason, there will be a cabinet meeting on April 17.”

Survey conducted in 2015, submitted to cabinet in 2024

The survey was conducted in 2015 by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, during Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure as Chief Minister. In 2020, the BJP government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the Commission Chief. Hegde submitted the final report to the cabinet on February 29, 2024.

According to Shivaraj Tangadagi, the Minister for Backward Class Development, the caste census report encompasses a comprehensive 50-volume compilation. This extensive report details demographic information for approximately 5.98 crore individuals, spanning across 1.38 crore families.

“It encompasses 94.77 per cent of people. Only 5.23 per cent of people are out of its ambit,” Tangadagi told media. The report is in 50 volumes.

The caste census reportedly involved over 1.6 lakh personnel, including 79 IAS officers, 777 senior-level officials, 133,825 educators, and 22,190 professionals from various departments such as agriculture and other sectors.

Criticism from the opposition

Karnataka is the second state after Telangana to have approved a caste-survey report. It has already started to face criticism from the opposition, BJP, who called it an attempt to “sow discord for someone’s benefit”.

“The people conducting the caste census did not visit every household. This report has been prepared under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s instructions. Since it has political motives, no one will accept it. I am also saying that a caste census should be conducted, but this report was designed to sow discord among castes for someone’s benefit. This is exactly what the Congress wants,” stated R Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.

Read More: China calls on EU to resist “bullying” by US