Karnataka Caste Census To Be Delayed? Shivakumar Says Decision With CM Siddaramaiah

Amid speculation that the Karnataka caste census may be rescheduled over concerns from certain sections within the ruling Congress, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said a decision will be made after discussions with CM Siddaramaiah.

Popularly known as the ‘caste census’, the ‘Social and Educational Survey’ is scheduled to take place between September 22 and October 7 at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore.

According to sources, a group of senior ministers in Karnataka is of the opinion that the survey may be pointless without a prior ethnographic study. The ministers met and expressed a unanimous opinion that a scientific and systematic study of specific communities is a necessary prerequisite for the survey to be effective, the sources said.

The sources said the group has decided to bring its concerns to Siddaramaiah, suggesting that the survey should be undertaken after an ethnographic study. This could mean that the caste census may be delayed to allow such a study.

Shivakumar, along with his cabinet colleagues HK Patil, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Byrathi Suresh and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, went into a huddle with Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson Madhusudhan R Naik and its members. The meeting came following some objections that were reportedly raised during the cabinet meeting regarding the caste list prepared for the survey.

Following the objections, Siddaramaiah apparently asked some ministers to hold discussions and get back to him regarding the further course of actions, as per official sources quoted by PTI.