'Caste census': CM Siddaramaiah gets enumerated, assures personal info will not be misused
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was enumerated on Thursday for the ongoing Social and Educational Survey--widely referred to as the "caste census"--, said the survey was not limited to any one caste, but a scientific effort to shed light on the lives of everyone in the state.
Calling on everyone to participate in the survey, he assured that the personal information gathered will definitely not be misused.
The survey, being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, began on September 22, and was scheduled to end on October 7. However, the state government decided to extend the survey till October 18.
"I have successfully fulfilled my duty by providing information to the staff who visited my house for the social and educational survey conducted by our government through the Backward Classes Commission. Our government has undertaken this survey with the aim of eliminating inequality and poverty and building an equal society," Siddaramaiah said in a post on 'X'.
Stating that everyone should participate in this survey without fail and give their information honestly, he said, "Only then will accurate information be obtained about the real situation of the society, and it will be possible to identify the economically, socially and educationally backward people and formulate welfare programmes for their progress."
This is not a survey limited to any one caste, but a scientific effort to shed light on the lives of everyone in the state. "By providing information in the survey, your personal information will definitely not be misused. Stop worrying and share the information with the staff," the CM said.
Before extending the deadline, the survey was estimated to cost Rs 420 crore.
The exercise is being carried out using a 60-question questionnaire "scientifically", according to officials.
The government had spent Rs 165.51 crore on an earlier Social and Educational Survey in 2015, which was later discarded.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
