Karnataka: Census report to be released by June 30

Bengaluru: Despite strong opposition from the Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities to the social, economic and caste census, the state government has decided to make the census report public before June 30.

“At any cost, we are going to release the final report of the census before the end of next month,” Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya told DC, after a meeting here on Thursday. He claimed that enumerators deployed by Karnataka State Backward Classess Commission had collected details of around 5.98 crore families across the state. The census had been carried out in a transparent manner by visiting each house. The compilation of details collected from various districts was going on and it is likely to be completed in the next 15-20 days.

Thereafter, the process of finalizing the report will begin. The minister ruled out a re-survey in Bengaluru city following complaints of non-coverage of thousands of families within the city. “Our enumerators were denied entry into several apartments, private villas and gated communities despite explaining to them the usefulness of the census. Hundreds of houses were found locked and thousands of families refused to share details. Despite extending the deadline for Bengaluru city, many citizens did not co-operate. We are not ready for a re-survey just because some families refused to speak,” he said

On Veerashaiva and Vokkaliga leaders threatening to file a writ petition questioning the caste census, Mr Anjaneya said it was not correct on their part to jump the gun without waiting for the final report.