Bengaluru: In response to growing demands for transparency and accountability, Jayaprakash Hegde, Chairman of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission and former Member of Parliament, has announced that the socio-economic survey report of Karnataka, often referred to as the caste census report, will be submitted to the government before November draws to a close.
Pressure has been mounting on the Karnataka government to release this pivotal socio-economic survey, with prominent Congress leaders, including MLC B K Hariprasad, MLA Basavaraj Rayareddi, and Minister K H Muniyappa, fervently advocating for its public disclosure.
A month after the Congress government assumed power in the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah entrusted the OBC Commission, under the leadership of Jayaprakash Hegde, with the task of analyzing the data collected by the H Kantharaj Committee and presenting a comprehensive report to the government.
When queried about the timeline for the report’s submission, Hegde affirmed that it would be completed by the end of November. “Even in the absence of government’s request, we were committed to compiling a report and presenting it. Our tenure concludes at the end of November, and we are dedicated to meeting that deadline,” Hegde declared.
Hegde also expressed his optimism that the report, initiated by CM Siddaramaiah back in 2015, would undergo thorough deliberation within the cabinet, eventually leading to a decision on its future course of action.
Addressing concerns regarding the scientific rigor of the data collection process, Hegde vehemently defended the survey’s integrity. He clarified that the survey was conducted by teachers and government personnel, stressing the absence of any political party interference. “The data collection was carried out meticulously, with teachers and others visiting households to gather information. Even if the accuracy rate stands at 80 percent, it is considered acceptable,” Hegde asserted.
The origins of this survey can be traced back to 2015, during Siddaramaiah’s initial term as Chief Minister when he commissioned the then OBC Commission Chairman H Kantharaj to conduct a comprehensive socio-economic survey in the state and produce a detailed report. Although the report was finalized in 2017, it has remained unpublished.