Bengaluru: Amidst discordant notes among ruling Congress leaders over publicizing the socio-economic survey or caste census being done at a cost of Rs180 crore, there is every possibility of the final report being delayed for want of information from several departments.
Already, a section of Dalit leaders in the Congress have upped the ante against making the caste census report public fearing a backlash from their community. With the Assembly elections due next year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been reportedly advised against releasing the report as it may invite the wrath of Dalits, who fear a reduction in their quota.
A Congress leader said Dalit leaders fear a cut in their reservation percentage if backwardness becomes a yardstick.
From the beginning, the right and left among dalits were at loggerheads over the quota fixed for them. For instance, if the population of the left is more, naturally they may demand a hike in quota and in that event, the government may face trouble from the right.
Besides, the government will have to increase the quota of Muslims if the survey report indicates an increase in their population. Since the Assembly polls are due in eight to ten months, the Congress does not want to get into another controversy. “In view of this, there are differences among Congress leaders,” he added.
In the meantime, the government has extended the term of the chairman, Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission by three years.
A member of the Commission told Deccan Chronicle that they have so far, just completed the primary work of computing details collected by visiting over one crore dwellings across the state engaging over 1.25 lakh enumerators. This is only 30 per cent to 35 per cent of the assigned task. The biggest challenge is to get details of every employee working in every department, universities, boards and corporations. Besides, details of students in colleges and universities are yet to reach the commission. For instance, the home department which had around 80,000 people working for it, has not furnished details of its employees despite several reminders.
Letters were sent to heads of all departments, universities, boards and corporations seeking details of their employees long ago. But, there has been a lukewarm response.
The commission does not have powers to pull up the authorities concerned and can only repeatedly request them to furnish details. Seeing the attitude of officials, the commission may require another six to eight months to finalize the document.
