<p>Bengaluru: The door-to-door Scheduled Caste (SC) survey, while proceeding apace in the rest of Karnataka, has been progressing comparatively slowly in the capital. Consequently, Justice H N Nagmohan Das, who is monitoring the exercise, has warned gated communities against barring entry to enumerators deployed for the survey.</p>.<p>Justice Das reminded Bengalureans that stopping a public servant from carrying out the exercise constituted an offence. “Why not stop supply of water and power (to places barring enumerators)? They can choose not to divulge any information, but cannot obstruct those conducting the survey,” he told journalists.</p>.<p>That enumerators have completed visiting 73.72% of SC homes across the rest of Karnataka against a mere 36% in the capital sets Bengaluru’s poor performance in stark relief.</p>.Modi agreed to caste census out of fear: Rahul Gandhi.<p>Besides gated enclaves prohibiting entry to enumerators, a delayed start to the exercise accounts for Bengaluru’s poor performance. “Also, given that there are fewer government schools in Bengaluru, we are facing a shortage of enumerators. Slow progress of the exercise in Bengaluru, which houses one-sixth of Karnataka’s population, was the reason we extended the deadline,” said Justice Das.</p>.<p>Sources attributed the poor coverage to a reluctance among SC families in Bengaluru to disclose their identity. “Unlike in the villages, where their caste identity is no secret, in Bengaluru, it is possible they have concealed it from their neighbours and others. So, to avoid being discriminated against, they may be unwilling to affirm their SC status to enumerators,” a source added.</p>.<p>Justice Das, meanwhile, said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner had been asked to constitute a co-ordination committee, besides setting up a dedicated control room and a helpline number. “We have asked for two enumerators to be deployed where the SC population is known to be high, while one enumerator can be assigned two localities where the SC population is low. We can also look into deploying teachers from private schools,” said Justice Das, admitting that the exercise had gathered pace over the past few days.</p>.<p>Queried about the difference in wages paid to government employees deputed as enumerators, and others hired specifically for that role, Social Welfare Department Commissioner Dr Rakesh Kumar said, “The latter will be paid Rs 5,000 for participation in the survey, and an additional Rs 100 for every SC household they visit.” </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The door-to-door Scheduled Caste (SC) survey, while proceeding apace in the rest of Karnataka, has been progressing comparatively slowly in the capital. Consequently, Justice H N Nagmohan Das, who is monitoring the exercise, has warned gated communities against barring entry to enumerators deployed for the survey.</p>.<p>Justice Das reminded Bengalureans that stopping a public servant from carrying out the exercise constituted an offence. “Why not stop supply of water and power (to places barring enumerators)? They can choose not to divulge any information, but cannot obstruct those conducting the survey,” he told journalists.</p>.<p>That enumerators have completed visiting 73.72% of SC homes across the rest of Karnataka against a mere 36% in the capital sets Bengaluru’s poor performance in stark relief.</p>.Modi agreed to caste census out of fear: Rahul Gandhi.<p>Besides gated enclaves prohibiting entry to enumerators, a delayed start to the exercise accounts for Bengaluru’s poor performance. “Also, given that there are fewer government schools in Bengaluru, we are facing a shortage of enumerators. Slow progress of the exercise in Bengaluru, which houses one-sixth of Karnataka’s population, was the reason we extended the deadline,” said Justice Das.</p>.<p>Sources attributed the poor coverage to a reluctance among SC families in Bengaluru to disclose their identity. “Unlike in the villages, where their caste identity is no secret, in Bengaluru, it is possible they have concealed it from their neighbours and others. So, to avoid being discriminated against, they may be unwilling to affirm their SC status to enumerators,” a source added.</p>.<p>Justice Das, meanwhile, said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner had been asked to constitute a co-ordination committee, besides setting up a dedicated control room and a helpline number. “We have asked for two enumerators to be deployed where the SC population is known to be high, while one enumerator can be assigned two localities where the SC population is low. We can also look into deploying teachers from private schools,” said Justice Das, admitting that the exercise had gathered pace over the past few days.</p>.<p>Queried about the difference in wages paid to government employees deputed as enumerators, and others hired specifically for that role, Social Welfare Department Commissioner Dr Rakesh Kumar said, “The latter will be paid Rs 5,000 for participation in the survey, and an additional Rs 100 for every SC household they visit.” </p>