Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 5: Chief minister Siddaramaiah announced the commencement of a state-wide internal reservation survey for Scheduled Castes (SCs), aimed at collecting comprehensive and scientific data to resolve existing reservation-related issues. The three-phase survey begins on Monday May 5, and will continue until May 17 in its first phase.
Addressing a press conference, CM Siddaramaiah clarified that this is not a general caste census but a focused initiative exclusively for SC communities. He added that the survey is being conducted in line with the Supreme Court order dated August 1, 2024, and based on the recommendations of a one-man commission headed by retired high court judge Nagamohan Das.
“In the first phase, teachers will visit every household from May 5 to May 17 to collect data. The second phase, from May 19 to May 21, will involve setting up special camps where those missed in the first phase can provide information. The third phase, from May 19 to May 22, will allow for self-declaration through an online portal,” said Siddaramaiah.
The government has allocated an estimated Rs 100 crore for the entire exercise. About 65,000 teachers have been assigned to conduct the survey, with one supervisor overseeing every group of 10 to 12 teachers. A total of 57,000 teachers have been specifically drawn from the Education Department.
The surveyors will use a specially developed mobile application to record data. They will visit homes based on the address listed in the voter ID and record details of every member of the Scheduled Caste households. Mandatory fields include caste and sub-caste information.
“We have issued ID cards to all enumerators. The survey will be conducted using the mobile app to ensure scientific accuracy,” the CM added.
Siddaramaiah also stated that the 2011 census had been used by the earlier Sadashiva Commission to determine the population of SC communities. However, accurate, updated, and scientific data is now required to determine the extent of internal reservation for various SC subgroups such as Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka, and Adi Andhra.
The Constitution’s Article 341 lists 101 castes under the SC category in Karnataka. The survey is intended to help in the scientific classification and equitable distribution of internal reservation benefits among these groups.