From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 29: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday promised to accept the caste census report which will be submitted by Backward Classes Commission Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde in November or December.
Inaugurating the ‘’Prerana’’ function jointly organised by the Kalidasa Health
and Education Trust and Ahilya Foundation in Bengaluru, the chief minister said it was the Congress government which had first conducted the caste census in the entire country.
The previous Congress government wanted to obtain correct data on the economic and social status of all castes. But the report, which was submitted to the subsequent governments, was not accepted.
The previous BJP government had appointed Kantharaju Backward Classes Commission under the chairmanship of former minister K Jayaprakash Hegde after he joined the BJP.
"Our government will accept the report, which will be submitted in November or December,’’ he said.
The Jayaprakash Hegde Commission is submitting its report on the socio- economic conditions of the backward classes in November or December.
The chief minister said nobody is born an intellectual and they gain knowledge and become intellectuals by utilising the opportunities and facilities available to them. However, merit and knowledge is not restricted to any particular caste or religion.
"If educational facilities and opportunities are available, everybody will be able to tap their hidden potential,’’ he said emphasising the need for education to become good citizens.
"Everybody must be educated and those denied the opportunities and facilities must be helped to learn and get education,’’ he said.
Siddaramaiah said hard work and goals are necessary if the people have to come up in life as without education, goals and hard work, it will be difficult to achieve anything.
The chief minister said people belonging to lower castes were prevented from being educated just as women were also denied the education. It was Dr B R Ambedkar, who strove to ensure that all people belonging to lower castes and women were provided with education.
He pointed out that when he was studying for his graduation, the situation was such that sambar had to purchased from the hotels and rice cooked in the room for having a meal. The government launched the Vidyasiri programme to help students facing similar difficulties.
The Kanaka Gurpith Swamiji Siddaramananda distributed scholarships to medical students belonging to backward classes and also scholarships.
Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, chief minister’s political secretary Govindaaju and former corporator B N Nitish Purushotham and others attended the function.