<p>Bengaluru: Even as the survey of Scheduled Castes (SCs) has progressed well across the state, enumerators in Bengaluru have cited a lack of awareness, non-cooperation and gaps in voter ID lists as hurdles hindering enumeration in the state capital.</p><p>While the survey has already covered over 83% of SC households (21.5 lakh households out of a total 25.72 lakh) in state, the progress in Bengaluru, with a coverage of merely 75,719 households, has been sluggish.</p><p>The lukewarm response in Bengaluru is one of the reasons for the cut-off date for the door-to-door survey to be extended from May 17 to 25. </p><p>“Though we don’t ask further details if people identify themselves as non-SCs, some argue about the need for this survey and why facilities aren’t being given to other communities. We won’t engage in these arguments but it takes away precious time,” said Venkatesh (name changed), an enumerator working in Malleshwaram.</p><p>Taking strong note of such a behaviour, retired High Court judge H N Nagamohan Das, who is overseeing the SC survey, said: “Obstructing a public servant from discharging his/her duty is a punishable offence. We will take measures against gated communities and individuals if they obstruct the enumerators from carrying on their duty.”</p>.Survey conducted in 17 lakh SC houses in Karnataka, says officer.<p><strong>Hesitation to reveal identity</strong></p><p>Some enumerators also pointed out that there was a hesitation amongst some SCs to reveal their identity, owing to social stigma resulting from the caste system.</p><p>“Some people were registering as non-SCs but from the hesitation and uneasiness, I could sense that they were trying to avoid it. They are worried about the repercussions in the neighbourhood if their castes are revealed,” said Jyothi (name changed), a government teacher/enumerator. “Citing problems their owner would create if their caste identity is revealed, a person told me they would come to the camp and register later” she added.</p><p><strong>Voter list issues</strong></p><p>Enumerators who follow the voters’ list, say they found that the details didn’t match. </p><p>“While some people have double voter IDs, others have shifted residences but have same voter IDs. If we remove their names now, they will fight during elections,” said a high school teacher from a legacy institution in Bengaluru South.</p><p><strong>Mobile application</strong></p><p>Social Welfare Department Commissioner Rakesh Kumar told DH there was an option in the mobile application for those without voter IDs to mention it. He also explained that a few more enumerators had been included.</p><p>Some teachers complained that the BBMP officials were not cooperating optimally with the survey. They also felt the government should have publicised the exercise better.</p><p>Justice Das noted that they wrote to the BBMP on Saturday to expedite the process.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Even as the survey of Scheduled Castes (SCs) has progressed well across the state, enumerators in Bengaluru have cited a lack of awareness, non-cooperation and gaps in voter ID lists as hurdles hindering enumeration in the state capital.</p><p>While the survey has already covered over 83% of SC households (21.5 lakh households out of a total 25.72 lakh) in state, the progress in Bengaluru, with a coverage of merely 75,719 households, has been sluggish.</p><p>The lukewarm response in Bengaluru is one of the reasons for the cut-off date for the door-to-door survey to be extended from May 17 to 25. </p><p>“Though we don’t ask further details if people identify themselves as non-SCs, some argue about the need for this survey and why facilities aren’t being given to other communities. We won’t engage in these arguments but it takes away precious time,” said Venkatesh (name changed), an enumerator working in Malleshwaram.</p><p>Taking strong note of such a behaviour, retired High Court judge H N Nagamohan Das, who is overseeing the SC survey, said: “Obstructing a public servant from discharging his/her duty is a punishable offence. We will take measures against gated communities and individuals if they obstruct the enumerators from carrying on their duty.”</p>.Survey conducted in 17 lakh SC houses in Karnataka, says officer.<p><strong>Hesitation to reveal identity</strong></p><p>Some enumerators also pointed out that there was a hesitation amongst some SCs to reveal their identity, owing to social stigma resulting from the caste system.</p><p>“Some people were registering as non-SCs but from the hesitation and uneasiness, I could sense that they were trying to avoid it. They are worried about the repercussions in the neighbourhood if their castes are revealed,” said Jyothi (name changed), a government teacher/enumerator. “Citing problems their owner would create if their caste identity is revealed, a person told me they would come to the camp and register later” she added.</p><p><strong>Voter list issues</strong></p><p>Enumerators who follow the voters’ list, say they found that the details didn’t match. </p><p>“While some people have double voter IDs, others have shifted residences but have same voter IDs. If we remove their names now, they will fight during elections,” said a high school teacher from a legacy institution in Bengaluru South.</p><p><strong>Mobile application</strong></p><p>Social Welfare Department Commissioner Rakesh Kumar told DH there was an option in the mobile application for those without voter IDs to mention it. He also explained that a few more enumerators had been included.</p><p>Some teachers complained that the BBMP officials were not cooperating optimally with the survey. They also felt the government should have publicised the exercise better.</p><p>Justice Das noted that they wrote to the BBMP on Saturday to expedite the process.</p>