Bengaluru (Karnataka): Karnataka Minister for Labour and Congress leader Santosh Lad has said that Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty’s decision to opt out of the state’s ongoing socio-economic and education survey is a matter of personal choice, stating that the government cannot compel any individual to participate.

Speaking to reporters, Lad said, “Whatever she has said, it’s a way of expression. It’s her choice. As a government, we cannot force anyone to participate in this. Who is influential or not… it is subjective. It is very debatable. I don’t think it would have any impact on society. If she has taken her stand, I will respect her.”

Sudha Murty declines to participate in caste survey

The comments come in the wake of Sudha Murty and her husband, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, declining to take part in the Karnataka socio-economic and education survey, commonly referred to as the caste survey, being conducted by the Congress-led state government.

In a self-attested letter addressed to the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, the Murty family stated that they would not participate in the survey because they did not belong to any backward community and therefore found it unnecessary to provide personal information.

The letter reportedly read, “We and our family will not participate in the census, and we are confirming it through this letter.”

Their decision has drawn varied reactions from political leaders, with some questioning the refusal of such prominent figures to share socio-economic data, while others have defended it as a matter of individual privacy and autonomy.

Government’s stance on participation

Minister Santosh Lad reiterated that the survey is a voluntary exercise and that the government does not intend to enforce participation through coercive measures. He emphasised that the purpose of the survey is to gather comprehensive socio-economic data to guide policy decisions, not to target individuals or communities.

He also downplayed the potential impact of Murty’s decision, saying, “Every citizen has the right to choose whether to participate or not. One person’s choice will not affect the larger purpose of the survey.”

Details of the socio-economic and education survey

The Karnataka socio-economic and education survey, launched on September 22, aims to collect data on approximately seven crore residents across the state. It seeks to provide detailed insights into the population’s social composition, economic conditions, and educational background, which will help the government craft targeted welfare schemes and social justice policies.

The exercise is being conducted under the supervision of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, with thousands of teachers and government staff deployed to carry out door-to-door enumeration.

To facilitate the process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that all government schools in the state would remain closed from October 8 to October 18, allowing teachers—who form a key part of the survey workforce—to focus on completing the task.

While the survey was initially scheduled to conclude by October 7, the deadline was extended to October 12 for most districts and to October 24 for Bengaluru, in order to accommodate logistical challenges.

A sensitive and debated issue

The survey has generated significant political and social debate, as it is the first large-scale attempt since the 2015 caste census to enumerate social and economic data at such a granular level in Karnataka.

While proponents argue that the survey is essential to ensure accurate representation and equitable distribution of welfare benefits, critics fear it may reignite caste-based divisions or lead to political misuse of the collected data.

Sudha Murty’s decision has added a new dimension to the debate, particularly because of her stature as a public figure, philanthropist, author, and Rajya Sabha MP. Her choice has reignited discussions around individual privacy versus collective responsibility in state-led data collection efforts.

Respecting personal beliefs

Lad’s measured response is seen as an attempt to strike a balance between respecting individual freedom and upholding the government’s broader objective of achieving inclusive data representation.

Political analysts note that by acknowledging Murty’s personal choice, the minister avoided controversy while reinforcing the voluntary nature of the survey.

Meanwhile, officials from the Backward Classes Commission have clarified that while participation is encouraged, non-participation will not attract any penalty, as the survey’s purpose is informational, not mandatory.

The socio-economic and education survey is part of the state’s ongoing effort to modernise its welfare policies and assess the distribution of resources and opportunities across various communities.

As Karnataka awaits the completion of the survey later this month, discussions around its scope, accuracy, and public participation continue to shape the state’s social policy discourse.