By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Amid a political slugfest on the inclusion and exclusion of castes and sub-castes, Kannada and Culture and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj S. Tangadagi on Saturday asserted that the socio-educational survey will be conducted from September 22 to October 7.

He reiterated that the survey will be completed as per schedule and the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes will submit a report to the government this December. The State Cabinet would decide its implementation, he said.

“We announced the date of the survey a month in advance and preparations have been made for conducting the survey from Monday,” he said. On Friday, the government issued an order on conducting the survey.

Mammoth task

“The government has taken up a big task, which is also challenging. We will be successful,” the Minister said, adding that mistakes do occur during challenging tasks.

Noting some suggestions given to the commission to clarify the confusion, he said: “The commission is a constitutional body. We cannot give directions to the commission. We can only advise.”

Clarifying that it’s not a “caste survey”, Mr. Tangadagi said: “It is a social and educational survey. It is being conducted in the context of the government’s schemes reaching every last person in the State.”

On caste names

Responding to a question on castes names such as “Christian Jangama”, “Christian Kuruba” etc., the Minister said: “Neither Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor I nor the commission members created these. When the H. Kantharaj Commission conducted its survey, the public voluntarily identified their respective communities. The commission included what the people wrote in the list. Can those who go to the survey tell anyone to write in a certain way?” the Minister asked.

Mr. Tangadagi ruled out any differences among Ministers on the survey and said there was no pressure from any community leaders on inclusion or exclusion of castes. A Cabinet meeting on Thursday discussed the merits and demerits of the survey.

In manifesto

The Congress had announced a survey in its poll manifesto and the survey report would help the government provide benefits of various schemes to the poor, the Minister said.