BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has announced that a comprehensive Socio-Economic and Educational survey, popularly known as the caste survey, will be held between September 22 and October 7, during the Dusshera holidays.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday made an appeal to all citizens of Karnataka to actively participate in the comprehensive survey, scheduled.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while addressing a press conference at the official residence, 'Krishna'.
"The Social and Educational Survey will be conducted in the state by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission from September 22 to October 7. Around 1.75 lakh teachers will be deployed for this task. They will be provided an honorarium of up to Rs 20, 000. The cost of teacher honorariums will be around Rs 325 crore, " CM Siddaramaiah stated.
"An initial budget of Rs 420 crore has been allocated for the survey. Additional funds will be provided if necessary, " he stated.
"We know that special efforts are necessary to eradicate backwardness, poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. In this context, under the chairmanship of Madhusudhan Naik, the commission will conduct the survey to understand the social and educational status of the seven crore people in the state, " CM Siddaramaiah stated.
He further stated, "The survey must be conducted very carefully, covering every individual, and the report should be submitted to the government by December. During the Dusshera holidays, the services of teachers will be used for the survey.
The survey must be carried out scientifically and without any flaws. It must be completed within the stipulated period, and the report submitted on time, he stated.
"In 2015, the commission’s chairman, Kantaraj, had submitted a report. Since 10 years have passed since that report, it was decided to conduct a new survey, and the responsibility has now been handed over to the permanent Backward Classes Commission. There are many castes in society, and inequalities still exist due to differences. The Constitution provides equal opportunities to all. It states that social justice should be provided to everyone. As Dr Ambedkar said when the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, we were stepping into a society full of disparities, " he opined.
Ambedkar had emphasised that if our Independence is to be successful and democracy is to survive, we must eliminate inequality, he underlined.