Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was enumerated on Thursday for the ongoing Social and Educational Survey–widely referred to as the “caste census”–, said the survey was not limited to any one caste, but a scientific effort to shed light on the lives of everyone in the state.
Calling on everyone to participate in the survey, he assured that the personal information gathered will definitely not be misused.
The survey, being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, began on September 22, and was scheduled to end on October 7. However, the state government decided to extend the survey till October 18.
“I have successfully fulfilled my duty by providing information to the staff who visited my house for the social and educational survey conducted by our government through the Backward Classes Commission. Our government has undertaken this survey with the aim of eliminating inequality and poverty and building an equal society,” Siddaramaiah said in a post on ‘X’.
Stating that everyone should participate in this survey without fail and give their information honestly, he said, “Only then will accurate information be obtained about the real situation of the society, and it will be possible to identify the economically, socially and educationally backward people and formulate welfare programmes for their progress.”
This is not a survey limited to any one caste, but a scientific effort to shed light on the lives of everyone in the state. “By providing information in the survey, your personal information will definitely not be misused. Stop worrying and share the information with the staff,” the CM said.
Before extending the deadline, the survey was estimated to cost Rs 420 crore.
The exercise is being carried out using a 60-question questionnaire “scientifically”, according to officials.
The government had spent Rs 165.51 crore on an earlier Social and Educational Survey in 2015, which was later discarded.
