The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): Jayaprakash Hegde, the head of the Commission for Backward Classes, officially handed over the socio-economic and educational survey, widely referred to as the caste census, to Chief Minister Siddaramiah in his office in Bengaluru. This event marked the conclusion of Hegde’s term as the commission’s chairman.
This revised document, which builds upon the groundwork laid by the HA Kantaraj-led commission, was presented amid varying opinions and demands for accuracy and scientific integrity in conducting such surveys.
Prominent Lingayat figure, ex-minister, and Congress member Shamanur Shivashankarappa criticized the methodology of the survey, emphasizing the need for a more rigorous scientific approach. Echoing a similar sentiment, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar raised concerns over potential unfairness towards the Vokkaliga community, advocating for a meticulously conducted scientific survey.
In response to these allegations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the uncertainty surrounding the content of the report, stating his intention to review the findings thoroughly before making any comments.
The submission of this report comes at a time when political factions within the INDIA alliance have been vocal about their support for conducting a caste census on a national scale. This push for a broader census follows the release of caste survey results by the Bihar government last year, revealing significant demographic insights, particularly that the OBC and EBC segments constitute 63% of Bihar’s population. These findings are expected to influence the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, highlighting the political and social implications of caste-based data collection.