Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cleared up confusion about the upcoming state survey on Saturday, stressing that it’s more than just a caste census. Speaking to reporters at the Circuit House in Gadag, he explained that the Karnataka caste survey will also cover economic, social, and educational details to help ensure fair opportunities for those who need them most.
The survey aims to collect key info on people’s caste alongside their financial status, social background, and education levels. This approach targets deprived communities and promotes equality through better government programs.
Addressing concerns about including various Christian castes in the survey, Siddaramaiah noted that feedback is being gathered. He said the Backward Classes Commission, a key statutory body, will handle any tweaks to remove unnecessary parts. The state government is just setting the broad guidelines.
Around 1.75 lakh teachers will lead the effort, with each one gathering data from 150 households over 15 days. They’ll record details on religion, caste, subcaste, education, jobs, and more to build a full picture of the state’s needs.
Siddaramaiah pushed back against claims from Swamiji Vachanananda of a hidden agenda behind the Karnataka socioeconomic survey. “The central government is running its own caste survey—does that suggest a conspiracy too?” he asked. He added that none of his ministers oppose it and emphasized prioritizing the poor in schemes to foster real social equality.
The BJP has urged the Governor to rethink the survey, but Siddaramaiah dismissed it as political gamesmanship. “There’s no intent to divide castes here,” he said firmly.
Shifting to election issues, the CM backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent warnings about voter fraud. In the Aland constituency, about 6,000 voter names were deleted, and Siddaramaiah confirmed an SIT probe will dig into the matter.
On demands to add the Kuruba community to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list, Siddaramaiah recalled that the previous BJP government had pushed for it. But the center sent it back, so the state will submit clarifications. Ultimately, he said, the final call rests with the central government.
Heavy rains have hit Karnataka hard, causing crop losses across districts. Siddaramaiah announced a joint survey is underway to assess the damage, with compensation to follow once reports come in. In Gadag specifically, teams expect to wrap up their work in the next two days.
Finally, responding to the BJP’s protests over potholes statewide, the CM acknowledged the road damage from this year’s intense rainfall. “We’re holding a meeting soon to tackle the situation in Bengaluru and other areas, and we’ll take the right steps,” he said. He took a swipe at the BJP’s past rule, pointing out they built no new roads and fixed few potholes during their time in power.
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