The communicative truthful far:
On April 11, a astir 10-year-old Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (popularly called the Caste Census) prepared by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes was dusted disconnected and accepted by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet. Two days prior, the listing of the Caste Census successful the Cabinet’s docket for treatment had amazed many. For the Chief Minister had connected aggregate occasions announced a treatment lone to rescind it arsenic governmental implications were believed to beryllium far-reaching and hard to handle.
The information was collected by the committee done government-appointed enumerators successful April-May 2015 from astir 1.35 crore households covering a colonisation of 5.98 crores — astir 95% of the past projected colonisation of 6.35 crores (Census 2011 colonisation fig for Karnataka is 6.11 crores). While the survey was conducted by H. Kantharaj Commission, the survey report, information and recommendations were submitted by K. Jayaprakash Hegde’s Commission successful 2024.
Though the survey findings and recommendations were acceptable by precocious 2017, Mr. Kantharaj could not taxable the study since the member-secretary had not signed it. Subsequently, the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress conjugation authorities and the BJP authorities that succeeded it besides did not person the report.
As colonisation figures became wide aft the Cabinet received the data, causing tremors successful the governmental landscape, the responsibility enactment betwixt the politically ascendant Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities and different backward people communities became clear. The Cabinet met again connected April 17 to sermon the recommendation, but did not determine connected the matter. While further statement has been deferred again for May 2, nary wide determination connected the commission’s proposal is expected. Meanwhile, the contented has reached the doors of the Karnataka High Court.
What are the large findings?
The vexed survey is being keenly watched for colonisation figures of castes/communities for governmental reasons, though its extremity had been to supply insights into ‘backwardness’ that the authorities could usage to make programmes aimed astatine uplifting specified communities.
The survey has pegged the full colonisation of backward classes successful the State to beryllium astir 70%.
Muslims are the azygous largest bloc with astir 75.25 lakhs oregon 12.58% of the full population, followed by Veerashaiva-Lingayats, a ascendant and politically beardown land-owning assemblage successful North and Central Karnataka, with 66.35 lakhs oregon astir 11% of the population.
The colonisation of Vokkaligas, a ascendant and politically beardown land-owning assemblage successful the Old Mysore region, has been enactment astatine 61.58 lakhs oregon astir 10.29% of the State’s population.
The Scheduled Castes represent 18.2% oregon astir 1.09 crore of the population, and the Scheduled Tribes fig astatine 7.1% oregon 43.81 lakhs. Together, some represent 24.1% of the population. The wide class comprising Brahmins, Arya Vaishya, Mudaliars, Nagartharu and a conception of Jains are astir 29.74 lakhs oregon astir 4.9% of the population.
What has the Hegde Commission recommended?
The committee has recommended an summation successful the full preservation matrix for backward classes from the existent 32% to 51%. Based connected the weightage fixed to communities connected socio-economic and acquisition parameters, it has recommended re-classification of castes; Instead of the existent 5 categories, it has recommended six. It has projected the removal of exemption from creamy furniture argumentation for castes successful Category 1, which are the ‘most backward’.
Kurubas, the politically stronger and perceived to beryllium educationally guardant among the backward people communities, person been moved from ‘more backward’ to ‘most backward’ category, on with a fewer different castes. Kurubas represent 43.72 lakh oregon astir 7.31% of the population. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah belongs to the Kuruba community.
The socio-economic and acquisition information of the communities are yet to beryllium released. Only the methodology utilized successful the survey, the questionnaire, colonisation information and recommendations for reclassification person been provided to the Cabinet Ministers truthful far. The authorities is yet to officially merchandise the study for nationalist discussion.
How person the politically ascendant communities reacted?
The ascendant communities person rejected the findings of the study outright, stating that they were “unscientific”. Both Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha and All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha person sought different survey, questioning the authenticity of the colonisation data.
Citing information from erstwhile commissions, they claimed that Vokkaligas should beryllium astir 12% to 14% and Veerashaiva-Lingayats astir 17% to 22% of the population. They said that galore households from their communities person been near retired of the survey, and that determination was disorder successful enumerating members of sub-castes. The information is excessively aged to beryllium accepted was different complaint.
Cabinet Ministers from these communities person already met separately and closed ranks to registry their protest. Moves are afoot for associated meetings of representatives from some communities to program protests together. Legal avenues are besides being explored.
Other communities, including Brahmins, Christians and Yadavas/Gollas, person besides stated that their colonisation figures person been under-reported.
How has the committee justified its survey?
The committee said that the survey was technological and unbiased, and carried retired utilizing authorities machinery. Nearly 5% of the colonisation was near retired owed to reasons specified arsenic migration, being absent astatine location during enumeration and deficiency of cooperation.
While enumeration successful agrarian areas was 99% to 100%, cities had a little percentage, with lone Bengaluru hitting 85%, the committee said, noting that adjacent the nationalist Census leaves retired 3% of the population. Given the geography and colonisation size, immoderate are bound to beryllium near out, it said.
Are determination different issues successful the report?
Experts person been captious of the removal of exemption from creamy furniture argumentation to the Category 1 castes that are labelled arsenic the ‘most backward’ among the backward classes. Among the castes listed successful ‘most backward’ communities are astir 50 nomadic and semi-nomadic communities that person neither recovered practice successful authorities jobs nor the governmental realm, with literacy levels inactive little than 50%.
Eyebrows were raised implicit moving the Kuruba assemblage from ‘more backward’ to ‘most backward’ category. The assemblage has for agelong been perceived to person taken preservation benefits successful acquisition and nationalist employment. They person had bully practice successful authorities too. The study does not supply insights into “adequate representation” that the courts person relied upon to warrant the reclassification of categories.
The proposal of enhanced preservation for OBCs to 51% breaches the Supreme Court’s 50% ceiling for reservation. With 24% preservation for SC/ST and 10% EWS (yet to beryllium implemented successful Karnataka), the preservation matrix volition scope 85%, which could invitation ineligible trouble.
Why has the survey travel up for treatment now?
Considered a governmental minefield, the survey was successful acold retention for astir a decade. The Congress, successful its manifesto up of 2023 Assembly elections, had promised to judge the findings. Ruling dispensations person been nether unit aft Bihar announced its caste census findings. Neighbouring Telangana has gone up with enhanced OBC reservation.
Leader of Opposition successful Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s nudge during the recently-concluded Congress league astatine Ahmedabad is believed to person spurred the Congress authorities present to judge the report. Party insiders besides judge that the survey was brought up for treatment by Mr. Siddaramaiah to consolidate his presumption arsenic person of backward classes and ‘checkmate’ Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is said to beryllium waiting connected the wings to win him.
What happens next?
The State Cabinet is acceptable to sermon the study again connected May 2. The treatment truthful acold has been lone astir the procedures successful information collection. Public Works Minister Satish Jharkiholi has indicated that it could beryllium a twelvemonth earlier the study is accepted.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has said that the Cabinet is nary person to a treatment connected the survey report. Speculations are rife implicit a Cabinet sub-committee being acceptable up to sermon the contented earlier it is brought to the Cabinet again astatine a aboriginal date.
