‘Caste census participation voluntary’, says Shivakumar after Narayan Murthy’s refusal
Karnataka’s caste census has hit a snag after the founders of Infosys, Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy, opted not to participate. A letter to the Backward Classes Commission confirmed their decision, and the survey deadline in Bengaluru was pushed back to October 24.
The move raised questions about the census’s success, and Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar said the survey is voluntary. “We can’t force anyone,” Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru. “Whether you give information is entirely up to you.”
In contrast, chief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the enumerators who came to his home to fill out the social and educational survey. After the interview, he released a statement saying the Backward Classes Commission is running the census to pinpoint unequal segments of society. “Everyone must give their information honestly and without fail,” Siddaramaiah said. “Only then can we get accurate data for welfare programs.”
He added that the survey is not aimed at any single caste and that personal data will not be misused. “Don’t worry, share your information with the officials confidently,” he assured.
Opposition leader R. Ashoka criticized the survey, arguing it collects all personal data and could threaten privacy. “If money is lost from people’s bank accounts, the government will be responsible,” he said. He also accused Siddaramaiah of pressuring officials to finish quickly, claiming the task can’t be done in 15 days. “Because of this, schoolchildren’s studies are being spoiled,” Ashoka added.
The Backward Classes Commission will now finish the census in Bengaluru by October 24 after missing the original October 7 deadline. The decision to let citizens choose whether to share their details may affect the census results, but state officials say timely, honest participation will help design better social and economic policies.
Source: ianslive
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