'Not part of the report': Jayaprakash Hegde dismisses caste calculations circulating on social media,

K Jayaprakash Hegde, the immediate past chairman of the Karnataka State Commission For Backward Classes, emphasized that the caste calculations circulating on social media are not part of the socio-economic and education survey report submitted to the government.

Addressing the media at a press conference in Udupi on Monday, Hegde said clarified that the report is not a caste survey per se.

Hegde stated that during Kantaraj’s chairmanship of the commission, teachers visited households, collecting data with district administration and departments’ cooperation. However, due to technical reasons, the government did not receive the Kantaraj report. Utilizing the data from that report, the commission conducted a separate study, forming an expert committee for recommendations, including education and job reservation for backward classes, he said.

An expert committee was formed by the commission and conducted a proper study. Various recommendations, including education and job reservations for backward classes, have been submitted. Many sub-castes were identified, he said.

“Supplementary data was prepared for the report prepared in 2015. The data which was with Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) was retrieved and the sudy was conducted on it. The report was prepared based on the study’s findings,” he said.

Hegde expressed his confidence that the government would accept the report. “This will facilitate the educational and professional progress of the backward classes,” he said. The decision on implementation of the report’s findings is left to the government, he added.

Hegde emphasized the need for wider public discussion. “There should be a wide public discussion after the report of the social and educational survey is released. It is up to the government to implement or leave it. Only through public discussion, can we arrive at the truth,” he said.

From 2015 till now, Rs 163 crores have been spent. During our period,  57 reports have been submitted to the government, including this report, he added.