Karnataka Cabinet accepts caste census report

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday accepted the contentious Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, otherwise known as caste census, which will be discussed at a special meeting scheduled on April 17.

The survey, which was conducted in 2015 by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, headed by H Kantharaj, and finalised by his successor K Jayaprakash Hegde in February 2024, was placed before the Cabinet in a sealed cover. The seal was opened in the Cabinet.

Briefing reporters, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said the report would be given to all Cabinet members so that they can study the findings before the April 17 meeting. The report has 50 volumes containing details on different caste- and community-related aspects.

While the government did not reveal the findings, it made a case for the survey by providing numbers to show that it was conducted scientifically. The dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have argued that the 2015 survey was not done properly and that their numbers were undercounted.

"As per the 2011 Census, the population of the state was 6.11 crore. In 2015, when the survey was done, the state’s population was estimated to be around 6.35 crore. The survey encompassed 5.98 crore citizens, which is a coverage of 94.17 percent," Tangadagi said.

“Only 37 lakh people were left out, which means 5.83 per cent missed the survey,” Tangadagi said.

The minister said 1.6 lakh officials were engaged in the survey process. “For the survey, an expert committee was formed and it came up with 54 criteria,” he said.

The government then had roped in Bharat Electronics (BEL) to manage data. “An agreement worth Rs 43 crore was inked with BEL,” he said.

A total of Rs 165 crore was spent on the survey, Tangadagi said.

Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said a special meeting of the Cabinet will be held on April 17 to discuss the report.

When asked about the completeness of the report when 37 lakh citizens were left out, Patil said: “Even in the Census, people get left out. Coverage of 94 per cent is a big, very successful number.”

Caste census is a political hot potato. While the Lingayats and Vokkaligas want a fresh survey, other OBCs and SC/STs are favouring it.

Congress promised action on caste census ahead of both the 2023 Assembly polls in Karnataka and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been demanding a national-level caste census.

The Cabinet’s move to accept the report came days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul in New Delhi and the Congress’ session at Ahmedabad.

Six ministers skip Cabinet

At least six ministers skipped Friday’s Cabinet meeting: SS Mallikarjun, Laxmi Hebbalkar (Lingayats), MC Sudhakar, K Venkatesh (Vokkaligas), RB Timmapur (SC) and Madhu Bangarappa (Idiga).

However, Patil clarified that all ministers accepted the Cabinet decision irrespective of caste and community considerations.