The Karnataka government Sunday extended the last date for the Socio-economic and Educational Survey carried out by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes till October 31. While teachers roped in as enumerators for the Survey will return to their teaching duties, the Survey will be completed by deputing government officials.
The announcement extending the last date was made by Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, following a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to review the progress of the Survey. While the Survey was initially scheduled to be held between September 22 and October 7, it was first extended till October 19 by the government, seeking an improvement in the number of households covered under the Survey.
Tangadagi told reporters that the progress in all districts, except four districts, exceeded 90 per cent. “However, in three districts it is less – Ramanagar, Bidar and Dharwad, where progress is 86, 88 and 89 per cent, respectively,” he said. In Bengaluru Urban, the progress was around 45 per cent, according to the minister.
Till October 19, teachers participated as enumerators. Henceforth, till the end of the Survey, teachers will be exempt from carrying out the enumeration. All deputy commissioners were directed to depute officials from various departments to complete the Survey, he said.
Directions have also been issued to officials of various corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to complete the Survey by October 31, the minister said. The enumeration will resume from October 23, as it is a government holiday from October 20 to 22 on account of Deepavali. “After that, the Survey will have to be completed in the remaining nine-day period,” Tangadagi added.
On Bengaluru Urban district lagging in enumeration, Tangadagi said that the government was confident of completing 100 per cent enumeration by the end of this month. The government has also asked MLAs from all parties to ensure effective participation in the Survey.
Responding to a question, he said that some elected representatives, such as Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, have said that they would boycott the Survey. “Are these remarks made by people in responsible positions? When the national Census is held by the Central government, will Congress leaders make a call for a boycott?” he asked, maintaining that the Survey was not meant only for backward communities. It is to assess the socio-economic and educational conditions of all seven crore people of the state, the minister added.