Census data sans cross-checking may face authenticity test

Complaints regarding the shoddy job done by the enumerators in many districts, especially in Bengaluru city, under the socio-economic survey (caste census) have raised doubts regarding the veracity of the crucial report to be prepared by the government.

Many decisions of the government would hinge on the report to be prepared based on the census being conducted by the Backward Classes Commission.

The website of the department, which is offering updates on the data collected by the enumerators, leaves the visitors baffled. As on Monday, the Devanahalli tehsil report says that in Aavathi town of Devanahalli taluk of Bengaluru Rural district, the number of filled-in forms received from the enumerators is shown as 44. But the number of digitised forms is 55. In Bidalur, the number of received applications is shown as 86, while the number of digitised forms is 129. There are many more such glaring discrepancies.

Asked how it was possible to have more number of digitised forms than that received from the enumerators, Kantharaj, chairman of the Backward Classes Commission, said, “This can’t be. There must be some problem and it will be attended to. Enumerators must do the work assigned to them sincerely”.

The collected information has not been verified or authenticated by the citizens in many urban areas, especially in Bengaluru where the population is nearly one crore. The commission feels that the members of every household should cross-check the data that go into the official records. But so far, it has not happened.

Sources said that the whole exercise had been reduced to a socio-economic census based on caste. Enumerators have been asked to get replies for all the 55 questions. But answers for a select 20 questions are crucial for the survey, they said.

Upward revision?
Sources said that the government may go in for upward revision of reservation for certain castes based on the census data.

Reservation, including for all categories, should not go beyond 50 per cent as per norms. It is 32 per cent for OBCs and 18 per cent for SC/STs. However, Tamil Nadu has exceeded the limit through a Constitutional amendment. Karnataka may follow the same pattern, the sources said.

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya said reclassification of castes based on the degree of backwardness was needed.

“The facilities given by the government must go to the deserving people. The reservation should also be in accordance with the population of the castes.

The census report will be placed before the Cabinet to take a final call on making changes, including upward revision. But we have to provide internal reservation for SC/STs”.

Regarding the flaws in the survey, the minister said, “We have tried our best to make it foolproof. There are provisions to cross-check the work of enumerators. We hope that the right information is fed into the computers”.

Anjaneya said an opportunity must be given for the people to check the veracity of the data entered.