Caste census extended again by five days in BBMP limits

The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes on Monday decided to again extend the socio-economic and educational survey, also called caste census, by five days in the BBMP limits.

The Commission has been forced to extend the census as it failed to achieve 100 per cent coverage in the capital. “The enumerators in Bengaluru will continue the house-to-house census till May 15. We could not cover all the households by May 10. Hence, the Commission decided to extend the census,” Commission chairman H Kantharaju said.

He said about 93.5 per cent of 23.36 lakh households in the BBMP limits have been covered till Saturday. Directions will be issued to 18,000 enumerators in the BBMP limits to thoroughly verify the list of households to be covered and ensure that they get authentic information from those people, he added. He said the Commission is yet to obtain information on the coverage till Sunday.

It is for the third time the census has been extended in the BBMP limits. It was originally planned to be conducted between April 11 and 30 in the State. But it was later extended by five days in the BBMP limits and three days in other parts of the State due to poor coverage. The Commission again extended it till May 10 in the BBMP limits and other parts where the coverage was poor.

The Commission has, however, deferred taking discussion on a proposal to introduce an online system to help those who have been left out of the census to provide information. “We are still exploring the possibility. It will be difficult to obtain signature of the person who uploads information under the online system. Appropriate decision will be taken after the census work is over,” Kantharaju added.