JOIN USBengaluru Urban and BBMP, in particular, have fared badly in the ongoing socio-economic and educational survey, as residents failed to cooperate with enumerators, said Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission chairperson H Kantharaj.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Kantharaj said the response to the census was good in rural areas. Ramanagar district has topped the list, with enumeration having been completed in 63.51 per cent households, as on Thursday. While Bengaluru Urban has recorded 10 pc. The enumerators have managed to collect details in only 6 pc of households in BBMP areas.
The chairperson of the Commission said, “Enumerators had complained that those residing in apartments were cooperating with them. They have said that a majority of the occupants of the apartment don’t even open their doors. There have been instances when dogs have been let loose on the enumerators.”
Kantharaj said it was important to get information from these households, as a majority of them are migrants. So far, enumeration has been completed in 43,11,202 households (34 pc) in the State. He expressed confidence that the census procedure would be completed by April 30. “The enumerators are now acquainted with the procedure. From completing 6 to 7 houses in the first week, they are now able to collect details from 11 to 12 households.”
The Commission has, so far, received 4,441 complaints on the helpline, and 124 written complaints. The complaints refer to enumerators using pencils to fill the data, about them failing to ask all the questions, about fake enumerators, etc.
The Commission had identified 1.33 lakh enumerators for the exercise. Of which, only 1.26 lakh enumerators are conducting the census. The remaining 7,000-odd enumerators also have been asked to take over immediately, he said. The Commission is yet to address the issue of residents who are currently abroad. But it has been decided to collect data from them over the phone. However, the form will not be considered, until the resident comes back and attests his/her signature to the same.
Kantharaju said while litterateur K Maralusiddappa had complained to the Commission about the enumerator having collected details about his household from a maid servant, chief minister’s media advisor Dinesh Aminmattu had complained that an impersonator had tried to collate details from him. Both complaints had been addressed, he added.