Caste census in K'taka 'completely scientific', says former panel head

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson H Kantharaju, the architect of the state's Socio-Economic and Education survey, popularly known as the "caste census" on Thursday asserted that the exercise was "completely scientific", and rejected claims to the contrary.

He said everyone has the right to have their opinion on the survey, but commenting even before going through it is not right.

"Whether the survey is scientific or unscientific, it needs to be verified and decided. I will say that it is a complete scientific report, because we have worked on it, seen the process, and tried to reach every house. Calling it unscientific is not right," Kantharaju said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "One needs to go through the report before commenting. No one has seen it yet. Commenting without even having seen the report is pre-judging the matter. It should not happen. After verifying, if comments are made, then it is fine."

The then Siddaramaiahled Congress government (2013-2018) in 2015 had commissioned the SocialEconomic and Educational survey, at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore in the state, the findings of which have not been made public yet.

The state Backward Classes Commission under its then chairperson Kantharaju was tasked with preparing a caste census report. The survey work was completed in 2018, towards the end of Siddaramaiah's first tenure as chief minister, but was not accepted or made public.

With pressure mounting on his government, from a certain section, to make public the state's survey, following the Bihar government releasing the findings of its caste survey recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that a decision will be taken once he receives the report.

However, two dominant communities -- Vokkaliags and Lingayats -- have expressed disapproval about the survey, calling it unscientific, and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted.

Stating that during visits to every house for the survey, 55 questions were asked, Kantharaju said that caste was one of the factors, and religion was another one.