As the compilation of the socioeconomic survey (caste census) conducted by the State government is in the last stages, some caste groups in Karnataka are doing something unprecedented — conducting “internal census” to know their own numbers.
Though most caste-based organisations work with an estimate of their numbers, these “internal census” exercises are unique because they claim to replicate the organised census process, involving physical enumeration and use of technology.
In Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot district, starting Sunday, a group of youngsters from the Kuruba (OBC) community are kick-starting the process of counting their population in the State, along with details of their sub-sect, education qualification, occupation, income and so on.
Forms printed
Halumatha Mahasabha, spearheading this, has printed 10,000 forms to be filled in by volunteers, who will go to the door of every person in the community. “We will start from Mudhol and then cover all districts where we have a presence. In the first phase, we will cover five districts,” says Raju Mourya of the mahasabha.
Missed call campaign
A couple of months ago, a forum of Veerasahiva youth began a similar counting exercise. Veerashaiva Lingayata Yuva Vedike is conducting a “missed call campaign” to enumerate the people of their caste.
Any person belonging to the community can give a missed call to a toll-free number, and the vedike volunteers call back to collect details.
“We are now building a database, which will be physically verified later,” says Prashanth Kallur, founder-president of the vedike.
Both Mr. Kallur and Mr. Mourya are supporters of the idea of caste census, but allege that the exercise conducted by the State government was “done in an unscientific manner” and “underestimates” their numbers. Though the official report of the government-conducted census is yet to be submitted, unauthorised data leaked on social media platforms has created a stir among caste organisations.
Though there are no particular safeguards to ensure secrecy of the data being collected by independent organisations and therefore run the risk of being misused by political parties, both Mr. Kallur and Mr. Mourya argue that they are entirely “non-partisan” exercises.
