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The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka SC survey: Flawed population projection, urban apathy, migration could be reasons for poor response in Bengaluru
As the enumeration of Scheduled Caste (SC) households in Bengaluru has just touched about 49% of the projected households, covered over the last month and a half, several reasons are now being attributed to poor coverage. The Commission headed by retired Judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, which is monitoring the survey, the results of which would determine the internal reservation among the 101 SCs in the State, is now exploring reasons for poor response to even the online survey in the State capital. Less than 6,000 persons have completed the online survey, even though the commission had expected at least about three lakh persons to respond. On the other hand, the coverage across the State is 91%. Flaw in projection? 'Several reasons are now being attributed to poor coverage in Bengaluru. The projected population was calculated on the anticipated annual growth at the rate of 1.5%, which may not have happened. With the City mostly having nuclear families, the size of the family may have shrunk over the years,' a source involved in the discussion told The Hindu. He added that there could have been actual 'reverse migration' from Bengaluru during Covid-19 after job losses. This seems likely considering that several districts have reported a higher population than what has been estimated. While the estimated population of SCs in the erstwhile BBMP (now Greater Bengaluru Area) is 13.62 lakh, 6.62 lakh persons have been enumerated so far in the survey that commenced on May 5. The survey is scheduled to end on June 22. Across the State, against an estimated population of 1.16 crore, the survey has far covered 1.05 crore or about 91%. Apathy main cause? One of the biggest cause of worry has been apathy among SC households in Bengaluru. The source said that apathy is seen particularly among third or fourth generation beneficiaries of reservation. The commission is also aware that many have not disclosed their identity in urban settlements due to fear of stigma or a fear of being asked to vacate the premises in case of rented accommodation. The survey, it is learnt, has been done well in about 700 slums in Bengaluru and settlements where SC population is high in number. 'The problem is in residential localities, extensions and apartments where people are not forthcoming.' The commission, it is learnt, is also keeping migrant SCs from other states out of the purview of the survey since the SC list for each State differ. 'Ultimately, a correct picture of populations will emerge once the general census is conducted,' said the source. Poor response for online survey What has perplexed the H.N. Nagmohan Das Commission is a very poor response to online survey. Though there have been about 22,100 log-ins for online survey, only about 5,700 persons have completed it. The Commission is also looking at calling the participants whose survey is incomplete to complete their survey. Sources said that the commission expected about three to four lakh persons to take online survey, especially in Bengaluru where IT literacy is high. It provided convenience to those who did not wish to identify their caste. According to sources, there could also be technical problems. 'Caste certificates older than a decade do not the unique RD number, which is must for online survey. The response has been far less than the expected three to four lakh.' Do not extend deadline There should be no further extension for the ongoing SC survey, Samajika Nyayakkagi Parishishta Jatigala Okkoota has urged. The federation of SC communities, in a statement, said that extensions have already been given to the commission to complete the process. One more extension will unduly delay the process of coming up with recommendations on international reservation that the commission is tasked with, said Basavaraj Kowthal, convener of the federation. Former Minister and Congress leader H. Anjaneya has also made a similar demand.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SC survey: Despite extensions, only 48% of projected population in Bengaluru covered so far
The survey of Scheduled Caste (SC) households in Karnataka being conducted for internal reservation has received sluggish response within Bengaluru limits, even after multiple extensions. In the State capital, despite a provision for voluntary disclosure of details online, just about 48% of the projected population has been covered so far. Interestingly, coverage has been above expectations in 11 districts. Across the State, the coverage is 90.64%. With teachers who have been the enumerators returning to schools with the commencement of the academic year, the survey is now dependent on Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) bill collectors, who have been asked to identify and pass on details of SC households, following which the BBMP officials are visiting them. The survey has been extended up to June 22. 1,200 families a day 'On an average, we are getting just about 1,200 families a day across the State after the survey was extended. The response has been poor and disappointing. Without enumerators, how effective can a Bescom bill reader be?' asked a source in the one-man commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das. Mr. Das is looking into the pending demand of internal reservation among SCs to slice up the 17% reservation among the Dalit left, the Dalit right, and other touchable SCs. So far, 26.39 lakh families with a population of 1.05 crore have been covered in the enumeration that started on May 5. The deadline for door-to-door survey was extended twice. There were four extensions for collation of data through special camps and online. In the first 10 days of the enumeration, about 74% of the households had been covered in the door-to door visits. Besides, persons from SC communities have been given an opportunity to attend booth-level camps to register or use the online facility. While the 2011 census had mapped 21.4 lakh families with a population of 1.04 crore, the commission focused on covering 25.72 lakh projected households in 2025. 'The coverage in Bengaluru has been poor. When the first extension was given, about 43% had been covered. After the second extension, the coverage is about 48%. Apart from complaints of enumerators not being allowed inside apartment complexes and gated communities, SC families not identifying themselves for the fear of stigma and enumerators not being available on ground, the general interest among the SC population in Bengaluru has not been encouraging,' the source said. Rural-urban divide Of the 13.62 lakh projected population of SC in Bengaluru (BBMP limits), 6.58 lakh persons have been covered so far. Bengaluru Urban (excluding BBMP limits) and Bengaluru Rural districts have recorded 80% and 87%, respectively. In fact, the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (caste census) conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes in 2015 had also faced problems in Bengaluru where its coverage remained 85%, when the overall average was 95%. An opportunity has been given to people to register even at BangaloreOne or GramaOne. In contrast to Bengaluru, enumeration has been above expectation in 11 districts, where numbers are found to be higher than the projected. In Haveri, the coverage has been 111.27%, while Davangere and Gadag have 108% each, and Uttara Kannada and Dharwad have 104%. Chamarajanagar, Tumakuru, Mandya, Hassan, Bagalkot, and Udupi districts too have performed beyond expectations.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ongoing SC survey finds people from nomadic communities without even one govt. document
The survey of Scheduled Castes, currently under way in Karnataka to determine internal reservation, has also brought out the fact that a section of economically deprived population among the nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are subsisting without Aadhaar, below poverty line (BPL) cards, or EPIC issued by Election Commission, which are crucial for obtaining economic and educational benefits for their uplift. There are 51 nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes among the Scheduled Castes, while there are 23 and 47 nomadic communities among the Scheduled Tribes and backward classes, respectively, in Karnataka. 'We are coming across cases where families do not have any sort of documentation. Since they are nomadic in nature, they keep moving from place to place. In many cases, parents have died young leaving their children without any documents,' said R.V. Chandrashekar of the Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University (NLSIU), who has been deputed to the commission headed by retired Judge H.N. Nagmohan Das. The commission is monitoring the survey that will help in determining the reservation quota for Dalit (left), Dalit (right) and others, including nomadic/ semi-nomadic communities within the larger 17 % reservation for Scheduled Castes in the State. 'Since they are migratory in nature, these families lack address proof, which is crucial in getting any of the identity documents. The same problem could be there among the nomadic and semi-nomadic communities coming under STs and BCs,' he said. High in some districts The enumerators have particularly found such families in Tumakuru, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Mysuru districts. In one case, a boy belonging to Sudugadu Sidda community could not get Aadhaar enrolment because his school transfer certificate (TC), which he had carefully preserved, was not accepted as address proof, since he had crossed 18. 'In a nomadic settlement in Chikkanayakanhalli, of the 18 families, we found that two families did not have any kind of documents,' Mr. Chandrashekar said. The commission has now decided to create a separate basket for such persons. The commission has decided to separately enumerate them when they are in the booth-level camp mode that is being held from May 26 to May 28. 'As far as possible, awareness has been created among such people to attend the camp for enumeration. Since those without documents cannot be brought into the door-to-door enumeration list, Mr. Nagamohan Das has directed for a separate basket to be created to account for them,' said a source in the commission. Director at the Directorate of Electronic Delivery of Citizen Services (EDCS), R. Yathish, who oversees Aadhaar registration in Karnataka, said that those who did not have the document can enroll themselves even now and provide the 14-digit number during the survey. 'We will ascertain if the applicant is from Karnataka or not since those residing here are eligible to participate in the survey,' he said. The EDCS has developed a crucial app for the survey that has caught the attention of the Centre, which is set to conduct the general census in 2026. Numbers are small 'Even if one of the family members, especially the family head, has any one document, it is good enough to participate in the survey. Though we have come across families without documents, their numbers are not big,' he said. The ongoing survey is identifying people belonging to about 186 Scheduled Castes communities and their sub-castes for documenting their socio, economic and educational status. So far, over 20 lakh families have been enumerated out of the projected 25.72 lakh Scheduled Castes households in the State.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Door-to-door SC survey deadline extended to May 25
The door-to-door survey being conducted to ascertain identities and population of scheduled castes in Karnataka for the purpose of internal reservation, which was to end on May 17, has been extended to May 25. While more than 70% of the households have been covered in the Comprehensive Survey of Scheduled Castes / Sub-Castes 2025, the lag in Bengaluru is one of the reasons for extension of the deadline to provide enumerators more time to cover families. As a result, the special booth-level camps will be held between May 26 and May 28. Those wishing to declare online can do so between May 19 and May 28. The extension of deadline for physical survey was announced in Bengaluru by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, who heads the commission that has been tasked to recommend to the government on the vexed internal reservation issue. The commission is expected to recommend slicing up the 17 % reservation for scheduled castes among SC (left- Madiga), SC (right- Holeya) and touchable castes of Lambani, Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Beda Jangama. According to Mr. Das, about 19.55 lakh households of about a projected 25.72 lakh SC households in Karnataka, have been covered in the survey. In terms of population, commission sources said, about 78 lakh people out of the projected 1.17 crore population has been covered. 'We are capable of reaching more than 90% of the population on time. Opportunity will be given to those who missed the door-to-door survey to participate in booth-level camp and online registration mode,' Mr. Das told presspersons in Bengaluru on May 16. Data received The commission, which will recommend internal reservation matrix based on socio, economic and educational backwardness indicators of 101 castes, has already received data to analyse representation in public employment from 40 out of 43 departments in Karnataka. The data is useful in understanding the representation each caste has got through reservation in government jobs. Mr. Das said all the State-run universities have provided the reservation benefits utilised by castes. 'To study political representation, we have received data from panchayat-level to Parliament from Election Commission of India, State Election Commission, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department. We have asked caste-based development corporations to provide a list of beneficiaries. Once the survey data is available, it will be analysed according to the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court.' Enumerators face challenges as SC survey is underway At least four castes — Mansa in Dakshin Kannada district, Madiga Dasri in Raichur district, Kambatti and Mera — are likely to be recommended by the commission for inclusion in the list of scheduled castes. 'Though they have AD or AK or AA certificates, their castes are not part of the list. We are likely to recommend to the government to include them in the scheduled list,' Mr. Das said. Mr. Das said that enumerators on the ground were encountering challenges such as people with Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra and Adi Dravida certificates not knowing name of their original caste. Some who have AD, AK and AA certificates are not revealing their original caste because those castes are not in the SC list while some know their caste but are not revealing it. When asked what would the commission do to the category that has identified themselves with AK, AD and AA, he said, 'We will take a decision on it.' Speaking on the lag in enumeration, he said, 'The percentage of households covered is about 73 for Karnataka. In Bengaluru city limits, the coverage has been about 33% of the population, and there is a lag. We have asked the authorities to deploy more enumerators in SC dense population places, besides asking civic authorities to provide larger areas to enumerators where SC population is spread.' Since getting more government school teachers is becoming a challenge, the commission had proposed roping in of private school teachers too. Warning those obstructing the survey work in Karnataka, Mr. Das said, 'It has come to our knowledge that certain apartment complexes have not allowed enumerators inside their premises, which amounts to obstructing a public servant from discharging their duty. We have warned such RWAs of serious action. Why should we not cut off water and power connection to them for obstructing government work?' Centre seeks info on app The Union Government, which has announced a general census in 2026, has evinced interest in the app and enumeration work being conducted as part of the scheduled caste survey in Karnataka. Mr. Das said, 'Subject to verification, this could be the first such experiment in the country. The Centre has sought information on the way the app was developed by the e-governance department, and conduct of the survey itself. We have replied to them.' E-governance department Director R. Yathish said that every person interviewed by the enumerator is mapped through either Aadhaar, BPL card or caste certificate, and answers could be cross-verified on the Seva Sindhu portal. 'More than 90% will be verifiable data, which brings accuracy to the survey,' he said, adding that data is being collected both in online and offline mode on the app.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dalit Christians differ on how to identify themselves in Karnataka survey
As the enumeration work to identify scheduled castes for internal reservation is underway in Karnataka, the identification of Dalit Christians has emerged as a contentious issue. While Dalit right (Holeya) groups are seeking a separate column for Dalit Christians, Dalit left (Madiga) groups believe that they are better off identifying themselves with the Dalit caste, from which they converted, to protect their reservation status. Meanwhile, the Dalit Christian Federation is advising them to be identified by their religion, arguing that it will result in better political representation. With the survey being conducted by the commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das set to cover 101 SCs, its outcome, including the population data, social, economic and educational backwardness, will be the benchmark for the commission to draw the internal reservation within the broader 17% reservation set aside for SCs, which they together (left and right) constitute 18.27% of the total population or about 1.09 crore. Internal reservation is a decades-long demand of Dalit left groups that have accused Dalit right groups of cornering reservation benefits. They want slicing up the reservation among Dalit left and Dalit right besides touchable castes of Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Lambani. What courts say The courts have ruled that the SC reservation should be based on castes, and since Christianity does not have castes, reservation cannot be applied. In this backdrop, Dalit right groups are urging the commission to include a separate column for Dalit Christians as the Union Government is yet to decide on their reservation. 'The commission should encourage Dalit Christians to identify their religion so that they can be kept outside the SC reservation matrix. The Karnataka Backward Classes Commission led by K. Jayaprakash Hegde has recommended reservation for Dalits in the backward classes reservation matrix,' a source in Chalavadi Mahasabha, which represents Dalit right, said. The Kalaburgi-based Dhamma Deepa Buddha Vihara has also petitioned the commission seeking a religion column in the enumeration. The 2015 Socio, Economic and Educational survey by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes put the total population of Christians at 9.47 lakh, which included many caste-specific Christian groups, such as Brahmin Christians, Kuruba Christians, Holeya Christians, Jalagara Christians, Madiga Christians, Reddy Christians, Vishwakarma Christians, Vokkaliga Christians and Walmiki Christians, among many others. The survey also identified about 12,865 SC population converted to Christianity, and recommended them to be included in Backward Classes Category 1B, which is 'most backward'. Political representation Sources in Dalit left (Madiga) group acknowledge that members of their community have converted to Christianity in big numbers, especially in the backward north Karnataka region. 'Caste inequality, social backwardness, atrocities by upper castes and poverty have driven many to Christianity. However, even after conversion, their social standing has not improved. In the current context, there is a threat of losing reservation benefits if they identify themselves as Christians. We are creating awareness about identifying their caste only during enumeration,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of the Madiga Samudaya Jagruthi Andolana. However, Dalit Christian Federation president D. Manohar Chandra Prasad, who is also a pastor with the Church of South India, said that they are creating awareness among the converted population and encouraging them to identify as Dalit Christians. 'The new recommendation has provided reservation in the backward classes. There is no need to worry about losing reservation status. We do not agree with the population figure cited by the commission for Christianity. Our survey in 2018 showed a population of about 40 lakh, or about 6% of the population of the State. A correct figure would help in seeking suitable political representation.'
