Caste Census Report: In Criticism, Committee Members Say Methodology Learned and Tested

A sticker was pasted on the wall of the house after a socio-economic and educational survey was conducted in Bangalore.

In the Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities that dominate land-holding, socioeconomic and educational investigations are called “unscientific”, while investigations involving the backward class committees involved in the Karnataka National Committee dismissed these claims. They say it is scientific and is carried out in a transparent way.

Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga community leaders seek new surveys because their population is much lower than what they traditionally claim to be. According to the survey, the fixed population of Veerashaiva-Lingayat is 66.35 billion (11% of the state’s population), while they claim it is between 17% and 22%.

The population of Vokkaliga is approximately 6.158 million (10.29%), while the claim is 13% to 15%. Leaders from both communities have controversially filed a survey data and called for a new investigation. Both communities also said that subcaste classification has not been properly completed, reducing the overall number.

In Karnataka, the estimated population of about Rs 6.33 crore in 2015 (the census population figure is 611 crore), the Karnataka National Backward Class Committee, led by H. Kantharaj in 2015, covers about 598 crore of about 135 million households in the state. The report was submitted in 2024 by a committee led by K. Jayaprakash Hegde. The committee has acknowledged that approximately 3.7 million or about 5.83% of the population cannot be covered.

A detailed methodology

Kn Lingappa, a member of the Cantalae Commission, dismissed the claims, saying: “We have not missed any caste/sub caste. The Commission mistakenly omitted two advertisements from the community before investigating the work, sought feedback from the community before investigating the work. Several petitions.

Additionally, he said the whole process was carried out through government machinery, with about 1.3 million teachers being kidnapped. “The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, has also studied our investigation and its methodology and has certified it.”

Mr Lingappa said the remaining population may be due to the migration of livelihoods or locked houses that cannot be investigated. He added: “The enumerators in Bangalore also had difficulties because gated communities did not allow them. In some houses, dogs were liberated. These were not intentional mistakes.”

He also admitted that the enumeration work in Bangalore is about 85% due to administrative and logistical issues. Outside Bengaluru, the enumeration coverage is 99% to 100%. “The Supreme Court allows for a maximum of 10% lag. Even if the remaining population is added proportionally to their respective castes, it is impossible to match the number of Veerashaiva-Lighayayats and Vokkaligas that have it.”

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil also noted that the national census also lags by 3%, and nearly 95% of the population being covered reflects excellent work.

How to identify caste

Committee sources also said several castes identified in Class 2-A and their professions abandoned the Lingayat tag during the enumeration, fearing losing in terms of retention. Lingayat leader and Heavy Industry Minister MB Patil also reflected this, claiming that the community has more than 10 million people. Similarly, some members of Beda Jangama are subseeders under the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, as they have arranged caste certificates and may not be identified with the community. “If every community wants to exaggerate their population figures, then the national figures have to increase, which will actually make it unscientific,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Heggard submitted the report in 2024, saying the investigation was conducted under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner and the DC office can still provide data sheets/professionals in a verifiable DC office. “This is an objective investigation. If some people refuse to provide details of caste or hide caste while providing sub caste only for booking purposes, then the committee will not be held responsible.”