Karnataka Census report favours creamy layer policy for category-1 castes? What we know

Leaked contents of the caste census report show that it bats for introducing the creamy layer policy for castes that come under category 1 of the backward classes reservation list.

The document reportedly says several people in category 1 too have attained forwardness (socially, economically, educationally and politically).

Therefore, creamy layer policy must be implemented in category 1 too like categories 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B that have been brought under the policy.

The creamy layer policy must be made applicable while providing employment for category 1 too, the report said.

The commission headed by Jayaprakash Hegde has made the recommendation, of bringing castes that are part of category 1 under the creamy layer policy. Hegde, who headed the commission, submitted the report based on survey data collected by the commission during the tenure of his predecessor Justice Kantharaju as chairman.

Category 1 mostly comprises castes belonging to nomadic, semi-nomadic, microscopic and most microscopic communities among the backward classes. While making this recommendation, the commission categorically stated that strong competition exists in this category too and it would be impossible for the children of poor labourers and farmers to compete with the progeny of the rich people in these communities.

“The competition is stiff here and there is a threat that this category may become one populated by the rich in due course, if the creamy layer policy is not implemented for it,” the report is said to have recommended.

“If the end goal of the Constitution - of providing equitable opportunities to all - is to be realised, the creamy layer policy must be implemented for category 1 too,” it has reportedly recommended.

Cabinet to discuss report on April 17

The Caste Census report will be discussed at a special meeting of the state Cabinet scheduled for April 17, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Sunday, reports DHNS from Tiptur in Tumakuru district.

“Copies of the report have been furnished to all the ministers, who will closely examine the document ahead of the Cabinet meeting,” he said. The minister said that the census had been conducted to ensure that the downtrodden classes had access to all essential services, besides providing them opportunities in education and employment.

The Home Minister pointed out that when the Congress was in power between 2013 and 2018, it spent crores of rupees to collect data for the caste census. “Information was gathered from 1.37 crore families. But implementation of the report was deferred by successive governments, citing one or the other reason. We need to deliberate on the data compiled in the report,” said Parameshwara.

He opined that political leaders must refrain from making statements about the report without having read the document. Parameshwara said that nearly 80 per cent of the information in the report was accurate.