Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, March 4: "The Social Educational Census report which surveyed the 5.98 crore population of the state has been submitted to the state government. I am ready to discuss this report once it is released in public forum. The cabinet will take a decision on this. The information of this report cannot be disclosed without the government's consent," said K Jayaprakash Hegde, former president of the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission.

He was speaking at an interactive programme organised by the Udupi District Working Journalists Association in collaboration with the Udupi Press Club Committee.

Hegde said, "While there are more than 1,300 castes in the state, the names of only 10 castes are circulating in the social media. After the government has officially decided on this report, there will be a discussion on this matter. It cannot be accepted as official data without the government releasing the government. I request that discussion in the social media should be stopped forthwith. I feel that most of the communities are covered. The data was collected by the Kanthraj Commission. We have traveled all over the state and have submitted our recommendations to the government. The data will be available to the public once it is accepted by the cabinet. This is a social and educational census and caste is one factor in this among the other 54 indicators. I am not going to comment on any person's statements. We cannot jump into conclusions unless the report is made public. If there are any changes needed there is an option to make them." 

Udupi District Working Journalists Association president Rajesh Shetty Alevoor, general secretary Nazeer Polya, Silver Jubilee Committee general secretary Jayakara Suvarna, Udupi Press Club Committee convenor Ajith Aradi were present on this occasion.

Journalist Chetan Matpadi welcomed and compered the programme.