Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah orders fresh caste survey from September 22 to October 7, calls it model for the nation

The main objective of the caste census is to eliminate caste and class discrimination, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who announced a fresh caste survey in Karnataka from September 22 to October 7. 

CM Siddaramaiah held a preliminary meeting on the social, economic and educational survey, and stated that the Backward Classes Commission had submitted a proposal to the state government for conducting the survey covering a population of seven crore in the state. 

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Stating that the survey would capture the financial and land-holding status of citizens, the CM added it would be a model survey for the country, and that the report to be submitted by the end of October would be the basis for the next state Budget. 

"We have decided to carry out the survey for 15 days from September 22 to October 7. The preparations and training for the survey will begin soon. This time, no one will be left out if the survey. The Kantaraju Commission had prepared 54 questions and conducted the survey physically (manually) in the past. A review will be conducted to include more factors in this time's survey and a mobile application will be used for enumeration," said Siddaramaiah. 

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The CM also directed officials to study the format of the Telangana model— known as SEEEPC, short for the social, economical, educational, employment, political caste survey.

The caste census was carried out in 2024, covering 96 per cent of the state's population, and the report was submitted in February this year.

In Telangana, the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government announced a 42 per cent reservation for the backward classes based on the survey findings and made resource allocations in the state budget. 

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The Karnataka government has decided to rope in 1.65 lakh enumerators, teachers and other government employees, as well as to constitute a high-level committee to supervise the survey work. It will also take the assistance of an expert committee to finalise the questions for the survey. 

While an action plan will be put in place to conduct the survey in the state capital, the CM insisted that accurate data on the sub-castes' social and economic status was crucial and had to be enumerated properly. 

CM Siddaramaiah also hoped that the welfare programmes based on the survey would help build a caste-free and class-free society by empowering socially and economically backward communities. 

India