Amid complaints of technical glitches and delayed distribution of kits for enumerators, and in some places teachers’ refusal to participate in the survey work, the second Social and Educational Survey being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes got off to a slow start on Monday.
Many enumerators could not start their work owing to glitches on their phones, while some others could only cover a few households.
Just about 2,765 households and 10,642 persons have been surveyed on the first day.
Highest, lowest
The survey data provided by the commission showed that Haveri with 680 households had the highest followed by Chitradurga at 420 households. In Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, and Tumakuru districts only one household each had been covered, while in Vijayanagara, Kolar, and Dakshina Kannada just two households were covered each.
“The OTP is important for logging in and entering details on the mobile application. However, owing to a technical glitch, the OTP was not generated properly. Following this, the software was updated twice in the afternoon, I could not enumerate even a single household on Monday,” said an enumerator at Ramanagara in Bengaluru South district.
In Dharwad district, the mobile application failed to open owing to the heavy load, and enumerators found it difficult to upload any data initially. In a few villages in Kundgol taluk, the enumerators called it a day after waiting till 2 p.m.
“Teachers are forced to travel 40 km to take up the survey as they have been deployed elsewhere,” said an enumerator.
According to the commission’s member secretary K.A. Dayanand, glitches on day one of the launch were to be expected. “Even enumerators have to familiarise themselves with the area. We also do not expect big numbers on the first day as certain preparations need to be done. The survey work will pick up pace,” he said.
High school teachers unhappy
Teachers who have been roped in for the work also showed reluctance in some districts. The high school teachers, who have been appointed as supervisors, expressed their ire at the orders coming on Sunday.
At Hungund in Bagalkot district, some teachers refused to join the survey, claiming that they had other academic responsibilities. They submitted a memorandum to the tahsildar.
High school teachers in Bengaluru South and Mandya expressed their anger against the officials who sent the order on Sunday. “High school teachers were appointed as the supervisors of the survey and the order was sent on Sunday. It is ridiculous and the height of negligence,” a high School teacher from Mandya district said.
Delay in kits
Complaints came from enumerators over the delayed distribution of kits in several districts. In Kodagu, Shivamogga, Bengaluru South, and other places, kit distribution commenced on Monday.
“The officials did not provide the kits until the survey was formally inaugurated. Finally, they provided the census kits by 3.30 p.m. So, I could not enumerate any households,” said an enumerator from Ramanagara of Bengaluru South district.
Each kit includes a booklet on the survey, stickers to be pasted after completing the process, and a cap.
The teachers also complained that the mobile-based application was not working. “We are worried about the technical glitches at the time of feeding data. The training programme was not comprehensive,” a teacher said.
‘Will be addressed’
However, commission chairperson Madhusudan R. Naik told The Hindu that there had been no major complaints about the survey work. “The technical issues will be addressed by the e-governance department,” he said.
(With inputs from Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Hubballi, and Kalaburagi)
Reluctance over length of questionnaire
In Kalaburagi city, there was reluctance to answer the lengthy questionnaire in some pockets. Enumerators, requesting anonymity, said that people were not answering questions relating to religion and caste.
In some areas, residents spoke to the enumerators with the help of their ward councillors. As many as 60 questions are to be answered.
Commission’s member secretary K.A. Dayanand said that giving information is voluntary and no one can forced.
Published – September 23, 2025 10:34 am IST
