Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, wife decline to take part in caste survey

Bengaluru | Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murty have declined to take part in the ongoing social and educational survey, nicknamed caste survey, in Karnataka saying they do not belong to any backward caste, sources in the BBMP said on Thursday.

When enumerators came for the survey a few days ago, Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy reportedly told them, "We don't want the survey conducted at our home."

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi flayed their decision.

Sudha Murthy has signed a self-declaration letter for refusal to provide information in a pro forma issued by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission for the Social and Educational Survey 2025, sources said.

The pro forma reads, "Due to some of my personal reasons, I am refusing to provide information in the social and educational survey being conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission."

Besides what is written in the pro forma, Sudha Murty reportedly wrote in Kannada, "We do not belong to any backward community. Hence, we will not participate in a government-conducted survey meant for such groups."

Sudha Murty, her personal assistant and Infosys officials did not respond to the messages and phone calls, seeking a response on the issue.

Minister Tangadagi criticised the Murthys.

"This shows their concern for the welfare of backward classes," he told reporters.

The survey started on September 22 and was originally scheduled to conclude on October 7, but was later extended up to October 18. Since teachers are largely involved in the survey, the government has declared a holiday for schools till October 18.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the loss to studies will be compensated by holding extra classes.

CM Siddaramaiah gets enumerated, assures personal info will not be misused

Bengaluru | 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.