Karnataka government begins survey of Scheduled Castes to collect empirical data

    Bengaluru, May 5 (PTI) A statewide Caste Census for Scheduled Castes sub-classification in the state has begun and will go on till May 17, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.
    The exercise started on Monday.
    Addressing a press conference here, the CM said, "The enumeration of scheduled castes is going on in the state. A one-man commission led by the retired High Court Judge, Justice H N Nagamohan Das, has been constituted. He has been mandated to give a clear report on the sub quota for castes in the SC list".
    According to him, the commission has to submit its report in 60 days. Rs 100 crore will be spent on the exercise and 65,000 teachers will be roped in as enumerators.
    Siddaramaiah said the purpose of this exercise was to prepare empirical data on 101 castes in the SC list.
    The second phase of the exercise will be held between May 19 and 21 and designated camps will be organised as part of this for the benefit of those who were left out in the first phase.
    The third phase, meant for online registration, will also begin on May 19, and it will go on till May 23. Those who are residing outside their towns can make use of this, Siddaramaiah explained.
    He added that the Supreme Court verdict dated August 1, 2024, in the case of the state of Punjab and others versus Devender Singh and others, upheld the constitutionality of sub-classification within SCs.
    "Based on the apex court order, we have formed the Justice Nagamohan Das commission," the chief minister said.
    Siddaramaiah said there are discrepancies in the status of some scheduled castes. While castes such as Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka and Adi Andhra are in the 'Left' category in some places, they are in the 'Right' category in other places.
    The commission will give clear recommendations and prepare empirical data, he explained.
    A mobile application has also been developed and a helpline number (94813 59000) has been allotted for this purpose, Siddaramaiah said. He appealed to the people of SC communities in the state to come forward and make this exercise a success.
    Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) called the exercise a comprehensive caste census targeting Scheduled Castes (SCs) to gather empirical data on sub-caste demographics.
    The survey, which will run from May 5 to May 17, will be conducted in three phases: door-to-door visits, special camps, and an online self-declaration option, it explained.
    "The government is committed to implementing internal reservation within SC communities based on accurate data," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying.
    The 2011 census lacked detailed sub-caste information, making this exercise necessary for fair policy decisions, he added.
    This comes close on the heels of the tabling of the social and educational survey report of the backward castes, called the "caste census of BCs", before the Karnataka cabinet.
    The state government has not yet taken a call on the report and its recommendations. Since the "caste census of BCs" has turned out to be a hot potato with various dominant communities opposing it, the state government twice postponed cabinet meetings on it.
    Siddaramaiah has now decided to hold a discussion in the cabinet on May 9.
    Regarding the caste census of Scheduled Castes, the CM made it clear that ministers and the ruling party MLAs are unanimous over carrying out this exercise.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)