Caste census report to be submitted to govt soon

The findings of the Socio-Educational and Economic Survey, better known as the caste census that the previous Congress regime had put into cold storage, will be submitted to the government soon, Backward Classes Welfare Minister C Puttaranga Shetty said Friday.

“In the previous government, Rs 150 crore was spent to carry out the survey. The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, which did the survey, has sought more funds. The commission's chairman informed me that the report will be submitted soon,” Shetty told reporters.

The controversial survey was carried out across the state in April 2015. It is said that the previous Siddaramaiah-led Congress government chose not to make the survey results public fearing political backlash, especially after some leaked findings indicated that Lingayats and Vokkaligas were not the dominant castes, contrary to popular belief.

Shetty said several backward castes in the state followed superstitious practices. “Our focus will be to end the prevalent superstitions,” Shetty added.