Bengaluru, April 11 (NationPress) The report on the Karnataka caste census was presented at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The state government is set to decide on the report's recommendations on April 17.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed to the media that the caste census report was presented during the Cabinet meeting on Friday.

The specific recommendations of the report have yet to be disclosed.

Currently, a few ministers are reviewing the recommendations, and this matter will be addressed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting scheduled for April 17 at 4 pm.

“We will discuss the matter in the Cabinet meeting and arrive at a decision,” CM Siddaramaiah stated.

During the Cabinet meeting, the caste census report was presented along with a summary of its findings.

Sources indicated that the Comprehensive Report from the 2015 Survey provides detailed caste-wise population data, key characteristics of caste groups (Scheduled Castes), characteristics of caste groups (Scheduled Tribes), characteristics of castes and communities (excluding SC/ST), and caste-wise data for Assembly constituencies.

The Data Analysis Report – 2024 from the 2015 survey includes social, educational, and economic data categorized by caste and community (excluding SC/ST), as well as for SC/ST groups, detailed reports by taluk and caste on families and population, and secondary source information concerning education, employment, and political representation,” the sources added.

The report was submitted in over 46 volumes, and the data was also provided in 2 CDs covering various facets of the caste survey.

In 2014, Siddaramaiah, during his first term as Chief Minister, initiated the Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Census.

A committee led by the then Chairman of the Backward Classes Commission, H. Kantharaju, conducted the survey at an expenditure of approximately Rs 169 crore. The report was completed in 2016 but was shelved by subsequent administrations.

The coalition government of Congress and JD(S), led by H.D. Kumaraswamy, and the BJP government under B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai also postponed the report's release.

In 2020, the BJP-led Karnataka government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the Commission head, but the report remained classified. Hegde submitted the final report to the Siddaramaiah administration on February 29, 2024.

Sources suggested that Muslims are indicated as the second-largest demographic group following SCs/STs in the census report.

Opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), have criticized the report's implementation. Major caste groups, such as the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, claim the report misrepresents their population.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, asserted on Friday that the caste census report compiled by the Siddaramaiah government lacks scientific rigor.

In comments to reporters in Bengaluru, Ashoka stated, “The individuals conducting the caste census did not visit every household. This report was prepared under the directives of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Due to its political motives, it will not gain acceptance. I believe a caste census should be conducted, but this report was crafted to incite discord among castes for specific interests.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah affirmed on February 18 that the caste census was executed scientifically and pledged to implement its findings without hesitation.

“Our government endorses the caste census. We have embraced the caste census report and will certainly put it into action in the near future. There is no reason for doubt regarding this,” he assured.