Bengaluru, May 5 (PTI) A caste census for sub-groups under Scheduled Castes (SC) in Karnataka, aimed at internal reservation, has begun and will go on till May 17, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday. Addressing a press conference here, Siddaramaiah said the purpose of this exercise was to prepare empirical data on 101 castes in the SC list and ensure equitable distribution of reservation benefits and uphold social justice. “The government is committed to implementing internal reservation within SC communities based on accurate data,” Siddaramaiah said. The chief minister appealed to the people of SC communities in the state to come forward and make the exercise, which started on Monday, a success. “The enumeration of scheduled castes is going on in the state. A one-man commission led by the retired High Court Judge, Justice H N Nagamohan Das, has been constituted. He has been mandated to give a clear report on the sub quota for castes in the SC list,” the chief minister said. Siddaramaiah said, the commission has to submit its report in 60 days. Rs 100 crore will be spent on the exercise, and 65,000 teachers will be roped in as enumerators. The 2011 census lacked detailed sub-caste information, making this exercise necessary for fair policy decisions, he added. The second phase of the exercise will be held between May 19 and 21, and designated camps will be organised as part of this for the benefit of those who were left out in the first phase. The third phase, meant for online registration, will also begin on May 19, and it will go on till May 23. Those who are residing outside their towns can make use of this, Siddaramaiah explained. The Supreme Court verdict dated August 1, 2024, in the case of the state of Punjab and others versus Devender Singh and others, upheld the constitutionality of sub-classification within SCs, he said. Based on the apex court order, the Nagamohan Das commission was formed, he said. Siddaramaiah said there are discrepancies in the status of some scheduled castes. While castes such as Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka, and Adi Andhra are in the ‘Left’ category in some places, they are in the ‘Right’ category in other places. The commission will give clear recommendations and prepare empirical data, he explained. A mobile application has also been developed, and a helpline number (9481359000) has been allotted for this purpose, Siddaramaiah said. Later, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a statement, calling the exercise a comprehensive caste census targeting SCs to gather empirical data on sub-caste demographics. The survey, which will run from May 5 to May 17, will be conducted in three phases: door-to-door visits, special camps, and an online self-declaration option, it explained. This comes close on the heels of the tabling of the social and educational survey report of the backward castes, called the “caste census of BCs”, before the Karnataka cabinet. The state government has not yet taken a call on the report and its recommendations. Since the “caste census of BCs” has turned out to be a hot potato with various dominant communities opposing it, the state government twice postponed cabinet meetings on it. Siddaramaiah has now decided to discuss it in the cabinet on May 9. Regarding the caste census of Scheduled Castes, the CM made it clear that ministers and the ruling party MLAs are unanimous over carrying out this exercise. PTI GMS SA KH PYK PYK
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