Release Of Caste Census Would Not Divide Society: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday stated that the caste census involving socio-economic and educational status would not divide society and stated that figures socio-economic status and caste are needed to initiate steps to bring in equality among the members of various communities of the society.

When in power in 2017, Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister had gone in for socio-economic and educational survey conducted by Backward Class Commission but the report has not been made public.

In Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, reacting to a charge from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had expressed fears that caste census would divide the society, said “The country has attained 76 years of Independence and it is important to know about the social and economic status of the members of the society.”

Continuing, “Ours is a caste based society and it is needed to get information on socio-economic status which allows the State Government to initiate steps to bring backward communities to the mainstream of the society.”

Siddaramaiah said that the Backward Class Commission headed by Kantaraju had submitted his report to the then Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy who did not accept it. Now, another person is headed the Backward Class Commission and he has been asked to submit the Kantaraju report as it is. I will be getting the report in November.”