Bangalore: Archbishop welcomes K’taka Caste Census, urges inclusion of Christian communities
Bengaluru: The Archdiocese of Bangalore, along with bishops, pastors, and Christian community leaders across Karnataka, has extended support to the ongoing Social and Educational Survey (Caste Census) being carried out in the state from September 22 to October 7.
Addressing the press on behalf of the community, Archbishop Rev. Dr. Peter Machado said the census would play a vital role in identifying the real beneficiaries of government welfare schemes. He noted that proper classification of caste groups will help frame policies and programmes that are just, inclusive, and based on actual needs. The Archbishop stressed that the survey would also assist the state in correcting disparities and ensuring that the weakest and most marginalised are not left behind.
At the same time, the Archbishop voiced concerns about the omission of certain castes linked to Christianity in the published lists. He expressed hope that such exclusions would be rectified during the final analysis of the survey. “Deletions, if any, risk denying historical communities their rightful recognition and may cause injustice in accessing welfare schemes. The Church urges the government to take note of these exclusions and ensure fair representation of all Christian communities,” he said.
The Church has also issued guidelines to the faithful, asking them to truthfully disclose their caste identity wherever they feel comfortable, but to ensure they declare their religion as Christian. Members have been advised to fully cooperate with census personnel and keep Aadhaar cards linked to their mobile numbers ready for OTP verification during the process.
Archbishop Machado has directed every parish and church to make clear announcements about the census and mobilise volunteers from among youth groups, laity, women’s associations, and parish organisations to assist families. He emphasised that no member of the community should be left out of the survey.
Calling the exercise both a constitutional duty and a step towards justice and equity, the Archbishop appealed to the Christian community to participate responsibly. “A fair and complete census will ensure that welfare measures reach all communities of Karnataka,” he said.
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Hyderabad–B’luru, Chennai-B’luru among seven high-speed rail corridors announced in budget
New Delhi: India will expand its high-speed rail network with seven new corridors as part of efforts to promote faster and environmentally sustainable passenger transport, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on Sunday.
Outlining the government’s infrastructure plans, Sitharaman said the proposed high-speed rail corridors are aimed at improving connectivity between major economic and cultural centres, while also helping reduce the carbon footprint of long-distance travel.
“The government proposes to develop environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems through seven high-speed rail corridors,” the finance minister said in her Budget speech.
According to the announcement, the identified routes include Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, Varanasi–Siliguri, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Chennai and Chennai–Bengaluru. These corridors are expected to link key metropolitan cities with fast-growing urban and industrial hubs.
