Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and his wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy, have chosen not to participate in the ongoing Karnataka caste and socio-economic survey. According to officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the couple expressed that they did not want the survey to be conducted at their residence.
Sudha Murthy’s Self-Declaration on the Caste Survey
In a written self-declaration submitted to the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, Sudha Murthy stated that she and her husband do not belong to any backward class and therefore declined to take part in the Social and Educational Survey 2025.
Her statement read, “We do not belong to any backward class. Hence, participating in this survey will not be of any help to the government. Therefore, we decline to participate.”
Enumerators had reportedly visited the Murthy residence last week as part of the state’s data collection drive aimed at assessing the social, educational, and economic conditions of Karnataka’s population.
Government’s Response: ‘Respect Her Stand’
Responding to the development, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad said that Sudha Murthy’s decision was a personal choice, emphasizing that the government cannot compel participation.
“Who is influential or not, is subjective. If she has taken her stand, I respect it,” the minister said.
Progress of the Karnataka Caste Survey
As of now, officials have covered around 15.42 lakh households in Bengaluru. However, the number of families refusing participation remains unclear. Among those who did respond, only 25% of the questions have been fully answered.
The Karnataka government initiated the survey on September 22, initially planning to conclude by October 7. It has now been extended to October 18 to allow more time for data collection.
Purpose Behind the Survey
The state government maintains that the caste and socio-economic survey will help create a more equitable society. The data, officials say, will assist in designing welfare schemes and improving the implementation of policies for socially and economically deprived groups.
Because a large number of teachers are assisting as enumerators, schools across Karnataka have been given temporary holidays. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assured that the lost classroom hours will be compensated with extra sessions once the survey concludes.
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