Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey (caste census) has been conducted to make targeted efforts to improve the living conditions of the people, as social justice was yet to be realized even after 75 years of independence.
He spoke after laying the foundation for a community hall at Mangala village in Chamarajanagar district.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said it was imperative to know the status of the socio-economic conditions of various communities and the people, as this will help formulate policies aimed at specific communities that are still lagging in socio-economic indicators.
The Chief Minister said the survey was not “aimed against” anyone, but it would yield data that was important to conceive policies and make suitable allocations.
He said the survey was conducted in 2015, and successive Chief Ministers ignored it, and now he has placed it before the Cabinet to take it forward.
“It is an attempt to help empower those who have been left behind or lagging in socio-economic progress, and subjected to exploitation. And it is not aimed at or targeted against anyone,” Mr. Siddaramaiah added.
Urging the public to understand the concept and the principle behind it, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the BJP opposed it and had even opposed reservation. “So support those who are for your welfare and progress and ascertain who are with you,” he added.
Addressing the local community, Mr. Siddaramaiah advised them to focus on building educational institutions and hostels, as education was a must for social progress. “Do build community halls, but priority should be given to hostels,” he said, underlining the fact that Chamarajanagar was lagging on the educational front.
The Chief Minister said 1.2 acres of land have been procured by the local association for the community bhavan, and he has also made a contribution to it. The government has allocated ₹2 crore for the construction of the community bhavan, out of which ₹50 lakh has already been released, he added.
On the government’s initiatives to empower the poor, the Chief Minister said the five guarantee schemes were aimed at it, and the beneficiaries of the various schemes, cutting across all communities and castes, have welcomed it.
MP for Chamarajanagar Sunil Bose, MLAs Krishnamurthy, Manjunath, Ganesh Prasad, and Thimmaiah, MLC, and others were present.
Published – April 25, 2025 06:36 pm IST
