Cabinet decides to conduct fresh caste survey, to be completed in 90 days

In a special cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru on Thursday, it was decided to conduct a fresh socio-economic survey across the state and complete it in 90 days as desired by the All India Congress Committee leadership. Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that as per the State Backward Classes Commission law, the findings of such a survey are valid only for 10 years. On how Karnataka’s survey will be different from the Centre’s caste census, the CM said the Centre has not said it will conduct a socio-economic survey. He said the Congress government is committed to delivering social justice as promised by the party in its election manifesto. The government will ask the Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission, headed by former Advocate General Madhusudan Naik, to submit the survey report in 90 days. He said Telangana completed the work in 70 days. The Cabinet meeting was held on Thursday after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi asked Siddaramaiah to re-count the castes. This was a response to complaints from major communities in Karnataka that the data collected for the survey had been re-counted. Earlier, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the decision to re-record the caste census data was taken by the party high command and it was not a decision of the state government. Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said some complaints had been received regarding the caste census.