Karnataka to conduct fresh caste census from Sept 22 to Oct 7: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will conduct a new Social and Educational survey, popularly known as caste census, in the state for 15 days, from September 22 to October 7, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday.

The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission is tasked with submitting the report by the end of October, which will shape the state's next budget.

A preliminary meeting on the social and educational survey was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"The Backward Classes Commission has submitted a proposal to the government to conduct a social and educational survey. Accordingly, a survey of all 7 crore people in the state will be conducted. The main objective of the census is to eliminate caste discrimination," the CM was quoted as saying by his office in a statement.

The survey also aims to gather comprehensive data on the financial status and land ownership.

Siddaramaiah said, "This time, the survey should be a model survey in the country." "It has been decided to conduct the survey for 15 days from September 22 to October 7. The survey report should be submitted by the end of October. Instructions have been given to start preliminary preparations for the survey, including training from now itself," he added.

On June 12, the Karnataka cabinet had decided to conduct a fresh social and educational survey (caste census), effectively binning the one done in 2015 at a cost of about Rs 165 crore, citing legalese.

The cabinet had cited Section 11(1) of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act 1995, which mandates a revision of the state backward classes list once in 10 years.

The cabinet's decision to conduct a fresh survey follows directives from the top brass of Congress -- President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi -- to hold caste re-enumeration in Karnataka to address the concerns of some communities, who were excluded in the survey conducted 10 years ago.

At the meeting today, Siddaramaiah emphasised that precautions would be taken to avoid any complaints about the survey and ensured that no one is left out of the exercise.

"The Kantharaju Commission had previously conducted the survey manually by preparing 54 questions. This time, more elements will be included in the survey. This time, the survey will be conducted using a mobile app," he said.

Instructions have been given to study the social and educational census conducted in neighbouring Telangana, and it has also been decided to form a high-level committee to oversee the survey work.

The CM stressed the need for a scientific and transparent approach, with assistance from an expert committee to finalise the questions to be asked in the survey.

Pointing out that human resources, including 1.65 lakh enumerators, are required for the survey work, Siddaramaiah said along with the services of teachers, staff from other departments will also be used for the fresh survey.

The CM asked all the departments concerned to work in coordination and make the survey a success.

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Thangadgi, Chairman of the State Backward Classes Commission Madhusudan R Naik, Chief Secretary to the Government Shalini Rajneesh , Chief Minister's Legal Advisor and MLA Ponnanna, and senior officials attended the meeting.

Various communities, especially Karnataka's two dominant ones -- Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats -- had expressed strong reservations about the caste survey that was done in 2015, calling it "unscientific", and had demand that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted. There are also strong voices against it from within the ruling Congress.