Bangalore: Archbishop Peter Machado of Bengaluru has extended cautious support to the Karnataka government’s ongoing Socio-Economic Survey of Castes (September 22–October 7), while flagging serious concerns over the omission of Christian caste groups from the current data collection framework.
Speaking at a press conference, the Archbishop described the survey as a potentially valuable tool for justice-oriented governance. “This exercise will help identify the real beneficiaries of the government’s economic and social welfare policies. It will also provide a clearer classification of caste groups, enabling the design of just, inclusive, and need-based programs,” he said.
However, Archbishop Machado expressed disappointment over the exclusion of 33 caste names connected to the Christian community that were earlier recognized in the 2015 H. Kantharaj Commission survey. He warned that such omissions risk marginalizing historically recognized groups and denying them rightful access to government schemes. “Deletions, if any, may cause grave injustice. The Church urges the government to take note of these exclusions and ensure fair representation of all Christian communities,” he emphasized.
The Archbishop also sought to clarify the Church’s position. Stressing that the exercise is not officially a “caste survey,” he said the Christian community would cooperate fully, even if disheartened by the present exclusions. “We are not very happy in fact, a little sad but we will cooperate with the government. We hope that the nomenclatures earlier used for the Christian community will be restored after final analyses,” he added.
Providing historical context, Archbishop Machado noted that many Christians in Karnataka trace their lineage to communities such as the Kaligasas and Madigas, who retained their caste identities after conversion. Although the Church does not recognize caste distinctions in faith practice, these identities historically enabled individuals to benefit from affirmative action in education and employment.
The Archbishop further highlighted the importance of accurate demographic representation. “We want to know what our real numbers are. Our sense is that our population is small, partly because many Christians did not fully participate in earlier surveys. With more accurate numbers, we can approach the government for a fairer share of support,” he explained.
He also pointed to the possibility of reclassification in reservation categories. “At present, Christians fall under the 3B category. If our numbers are shown to be higher, we may ask for placement under 2C. Since 2B is currently reserved for Muslims with 4% reservation, the government may consider placing Christians in 2C,” he said.
Reiterating the Church’s openness to dialogue, Archbishop Machado concluded by calling for inclusivity, justice, and recognition of Christian communities within Karnataka’s evolving welfare framework. “Our cooperation is assured, but our request is that the government ensures no one is left behind.”