The final report of Karnataka’s Social and Educational Survey, widely known as the caste survey, was tabled before the state cabinet on Friday, 11 April 2024.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that a special cabinet meeting will take place on 17 April to discuss the report in detail. He instructed Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi to distribute sealed copies of the report to all ministers. He asked them to study it and attend the next meeting fully prepared.
Sources say some ministers, especially from the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, raised strong objections. They described the report as outdated and unscientific, pointing out that the data was collected eight years ago and submitted only last year.
They argued that the report does not reflect Karnataka’s current demographic realities, and warned that it may clash with data from the 2011 Census or the upcoming national census.
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The caste survey was first launched in 2015 under the then Backward Classes Commission chairman H. Kantharaj. The final report was prepared by Jayaprakash Hegde. It has faced criticism from dominant communities, including the Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, who have demanded that the government reject the findings.
Despite these protests, the government decided to present the report for cabinet review. Heated arguments both in support of and against the report were heard during the meeting, according to sources.
A cabinet subcommittee will now examine the report. It will be led by Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, and include ministers G. Parameshwara, K.J. George, Shivaraj Tangadagi, and HK Patil, among others. They represent various social groups and communities.
The report consists of 13 volumes and includes:
-Caste-wise population data
-Economic, social, and educational conditions
-Caste data at the constituency level
-Details on political representation, employment, and education
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