Even as the Caste Census has about to begun, Justice A J Sadashiva, who is heading a commission looking into imbalance in distribution of reservation benefits, asked the officials not to restrict the exercise to generation of data alone. The survey should help map the social, economic and cultural status of the communities, which, he said, should help the government to assist them. This should not be a mere exercise to get the data but it should also map the living conditions of the targeted communities, he told them reviewing the survey work in Mysore, Chamarajnagar, Mandya and Hassan districts. Regional commissioner M V Jayanthi was present.
Pointing out the task, Sadashiva referred to the proposed caste census by the the Centre and said: "What the commission is doing is important in that context. It should set a vast guideline for the national caste census." There is not much information about some communities. This needs to be documented and the survey should not be a mere statistical affair, he noted. Pointing at the ZP polls in December, some officials sought extension of the survey works ordained to be completed by November-end, Sadashiva said he cannot outrightly say that it will be granted. Officials said the number of enumerators is less in some areas and the commission suggested to use the local resources to make it up. The DCs, ACs and tahasldars from all four districts attended the meeting.
