Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday assured that the State government will address and resolve all concerns related to the upcoming caste survey scheduled from September 22 to October 7.
“Nothing will happen, don’t worry. We will resolve all problems, all those issues… We will see that all problems are sorted out and that we will come out with a new survey,” Shivakumar told reporters.
Supporting the initiative, Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwara clarified that the data collected will not be used for reservation purposes but will help design government programmes for disadvantaged groups.
“It is not the question of any particular caste. It is only to enumerate the numbers of each caste. This is not going to be used for any reservations,” Parmeshwara said. He added that the survey would assess the social and educational progress of communities since Independence, enabling targeted welfare measures.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also reiterated his government’s commitment to the exercise, calling it an important step toward equality. Addressing reporters in Gadag, he explained that the survey would provide a comprehensive picture of the state’s social, economic, and educational landscape.
“This survey is not just a caste survey, but an economic, social, and educational survey. It will ensure equal opportunities for disadvantaged sections by documenting their living conditions,” Siddaramaiah said.
Rejecting opposition criticism, the Chief Minister accused the BJP of politicising the issue. “The Central government will also conduct a caste survey. Will there be a conspiracy in that too? No minister has opposed the survey. To bring equality in society, the poor must be prioritised in government schemes,” he stated.
On the Kuruba community’s demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category, Siddaramaiah noted that the recommendation was made by the previous BJP government but later returned by the Centre. He stressed that the final decision rests with the Union government.
