KarnatakaCMSiddaramaiahsaid that his government will accept the report of the 2015 socio-economic survey, popularly known as caste census. The CM said on the basis of the report, the government will extend facilities to different communities.
The move is bound to give impetus to the demand for a caste-based census made by parties like JD(U), RJD, SP,DMK,NCPandBJDfrom time to time.
The governments decision to accept the report commissioned in 2015 by Siddaramaiah during his previous stint as CM is likely to create a flutter in the State Politics as the findings could be a challenge to the hegemony of castes like Lingayats and Vokkaligas that have so far enjoyed political preferences due to their perceived bigger share in the states Population.
The caste census data for Karnataka, the first such survey conducted by any state after 1935, has been gathering dust since 2018. Successive governments have refused to accept the report and reveal its findings on the pretext that it was not signed and validated by the then member secretary of the commission. However, according to political observers, the real reason is the strong opposition from Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
Contrary to popular belief, leaked excerpts of the key findings of the report just before the 2018 revealed SCs constitute the largest community with 19% representation in the states population, followed by Muslims at 16%. According to the 2011 census, SCs comprised 16% and Muslims 13% of the states population.
The leaked excerpts pegged Lingayats at 14% of the population and Vokkaligas at 11% way lower than what is commonly perceived. While Lingayats claim they form 20%, Vokkaligas say they constitute 17%.