10-day holiday for government, aided schools to facilitate caste survey: D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has declared a 10-day holiday for government and aided schools till October 18 to allow teachers to take part in the ongoing Social and Educational Survey, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar informed on Tuesday. This exercise is also popularly dubbed as caste survey.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said the decision followed a request from the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers’ Association, which had urged the government to grant leave so that teachers could serve as enumerators in the survey. “We held a meeting under the leadership of the Chief Minister to review the survey’s progress. Around 90% of the people in rural areas have cooperated with the enumerators, and we thank them for their support,” Shivakumar said.

He added that the survey in the Greater Bengaluru area began slightly later due to the Election Commission’s training schedule. “About 25% of the work in Bengaluru has been completed. We also held meetings with commissioners of all five city corporations and officials from the Education Department,” he said.

Emphasising the purpose of the exercise, Shivakumar said, “the government is conducting this survey to ensure justice for all. I urge Bengaluru residents to cooperate with the enumerators. Participation is voluntary — people can provide the information they are comfortable sharing, either in person or online.”

The Dy.CM clarified that some of the questions were designed to understand the lifestyle and socio-economic conditions of rural residents. The holiday, he added, does not apply to private schools or pre-university colleges.

He also acknowledged the role of the teachers’ association in facilitating the survey. “Association President Puttanna met the Chief Minister and me to submit an appeal seeking time for teachers to participate in the survey,” he said.

On being asked about internal differences in the Congress regarding the Lingayat Dharma issue, Shivakumar asserted, “we are not trying to divide anyone. It is for the community to decide, and the government will not interfere in such matters.”