Jameel Aahmed Milansaar: Counting for Justice: Why Karnataka’s Caste Survey is a Step Toward Equality

Monday, 29 September 2025

Counting for Justice: Why Karnataka’s Caste Survey is a Step Toward Equality

Recently, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya called on people to boycott the Karnataka caste survey, saying it was driven by politics and not safe. He warned that taking part could put people’s personal information at risk and claimed the survey would divide society. However, these claims are misleading and could harm the larger effort to achieve equality and justice in our society.

Refusing to participate in the caste survey means that the hardships faced by many communities will remain hidden. If large groups don’t participate, the most vulnerable people will be left without a voice or proper support from the government.

Tejasvi Surya’s remarks about privacy have also caused unnecessary fear, even though the Karnataka High Court has confirmed that the survey is voluntary and that the collected data will be protected. Spreading doubt and suspicion creates confusion and distrust, which makes it harder for people to benefit from important schemes and reforms.

When leaders speak against such surveys without considering the facts, it only benefits those already in power, while those struggling in society continue to be left behind. Honest data about people’s lives is crucial for honest and effective public policy-making.

A caste survey reveals which communities are suffering and need the most support, allowing the government to send help where it is truly required. Without this information, policies and welfare schemes can miss those who would benefit most, making efforts at progress and equality much less effective.

The main goal of the caste survey is to make society more just and balanced, not to create divisions. Accurate numbers and data replace harmful stereotypes and bring everyone one step closer to equal opportunity under the law.

Lastly, many marginalized communities remain invisible in government data and decisions. By participating in the caste survey, these groups have a real chance to tell their stories and finally be recognized. Their representation can lead to targeted measures to solve their problems.

In conclusion, to undermine or boycott the caste survey is to deny society a vital opportunity for truth and transformation. Honest participation empowers marginalized voices that have long been excluded from policy decisions and ensures government action is rooted in the lived realities of every community. Refusing this exercise keeps inequalities hidden and maintains systems that fail the most vulnerable. The survey is not just an administrative task—it represents a chance for Karnataka, and India, to redesign social justice based on facts rather than assumptions or political convenience.

More than just about numbers, this survey is a moral commitment to fairness. Policymakers finally have the chance to see which groups are genuinely left behind and adapt reservations, incentives, and assistance programs accordingly, as already debated and recommended in Karnataka’s new survey reports. Such reforms, guided by transparent data, can increase faith in public institutions and show that equity is not only a constitutional ideal but a real, measurable goal.

Importantly, this moment could set a national example. If Karnataka manages to transform survey findings into targeted welfare, transparent action, and new thinking about reservation, it will encourage other states to value both data and compassion. Rather than divide, robust social surveys can build wider coalitions based on need, justice, and inclusion. The greatest risk is not in conducting the survey, but in ignoring what it tells us. If the state and its citizens choose to listen—to count everyone, and to care for everyone—this exercise could become a powerful force for equality and unity in the years ahead.