Fresh caste census runs into delays

Time of India

5 days ago

Bengaluru: The govt's decision to conduct the socio-educational survey afresh, commonly referred to as a caste census, has stumbled at the starting line. Despite cabinet approval on June 12 and a 90-day deadline, the process is yet to take off, with internal political wrangling and procedural bottlenecks holding it back.
A key issue is the delay in constituting the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (BC commission), the statutory body responsible for overseeing the exercise. Though the govt was expected to issue a notification by June 19, no progress has been made and the appointment of five commission members remains unresolved. The delay is largely due to differences within the governing Congress over selection of members.
Officials said a shortlist has been sent to chief minister Siddaramaiah, but competing camps within the party are lobbying hard for their nominees. "The CM's task is cut out given the pressure being mounted by various groups. He is expected to look into appointments once he returns from New Delhi," said an official familiar with the process.
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The composition of the commission has become politically sensitive following criticism of the previous caste census conducted under H Kantharaj and later revised by K Jayaprakash Hegde.
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Several communities, including Lingayats, Kodavas, Bunts, Balijas, and Idigas, have alleged that their population figures were under-reported. These groups are now demanding representation in the new commission to ensure their concerns are addressed.
"The process of appointing members to the BC commission is in the final stage," said BC welfare minister Shivaraj Tangadagi. "The composition will be balanced.
Since we want to consider views being aired from all communities and address their concerns, we will finalise the names after consulting the chief minister."
However, the delay has meant Madhusudan R Naik, who was appointed chairman of the BC Commission in Jan, has been unable to begin work. "We are preparing the ground and studying previous reports and models of similar exercises. We will have meetings and consultations with stakeholders, once members are appointed.
The report will be prepared as soon as possible," Naik said.
Meanwhile, the govt is facing staffing hurdles. With teachers already deployed for the Justice Nagamohan Das commission's ongoing survey on Scheduled Castes, there is resistance to using them again. Education minister Madhu Bangarappa has suggested outsourcing the work to private agencies, but legal and credibility concerns remain.
Political opposition is also mounting from within Ahinda groups who want the govt to act on the recommendations of the Hegde report instead of starting afresh. "We were told that the govt has neither rejected nor accepted the Kantharaj report," said K Ramachandrappa, president, Shoshitha Vargagala Maha Okkuta. "We will launch a state-wide agitation from next week, urging the govt to publicise that report. Let there be a debate about it before the govt embarks on a fresh caste census.
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