Door-to-door SC survey deadline extended to May 25

The Hindu

16-05-2025

The door-to-door survey being conducted to ascertain identities and population of scheduled castes in Karnataka for the purpose of internal reservation, which was to end on May 17, has been extended to May 25. While more than 70% of the households have been covered in the Comprehensive Survey of Scheduled Castes / Sub-Castes 2025, the lag in Bengaluru is one of the reasons for extension of the deadline to provide enumerators more time to cover families.
As a result, the special booth-level camps will be held between May 26 and May 28. Those wishing to declare online can do so between May 19 and May 28.
The extension of deadline for physical survey was announced in Bengaluru by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, who heads the commission that has been tasked to recommend to the government on the vexed internal reservation issue. The commission is expected to recommend slicing up the 17 % reservation for scheduled castes among SC (left- Madiga), SC (right- Holeya) and touchable castes of Lambani, Bhovi, Korma, Korcha and Beda Jangama.
According to Mr. Das, about 19.55 lakh households of about a projected 25.72 lakh SC households in Karnataka, have been covered in the survey. In terms of population, commission sources said, about 78 lakh people out of the projected 1.17 crore population has been covered.
'We are capable of reaching more than 90% of the population on time. Opportunity will be given to those who missed the door-to-door survey to participate in booth-level camp and online registration mode,' Mr. Das told presspersons in Bengaluru on May 16.
Data received
The commission, which will recommend internal reservation matrix based on socio, economic and educational backwardness indicators of 101 castes, has already received data to analyse representation in public employment from 40 out of 43 departments in Karnataka. The data is useful in understanding the representation each caste has got through reservation in government jobs.
Mr. Das said all the State-run universities have provided the reservation benefits utilised by castes. 'To study political representation, we have received data from panchayat-level to Parliament from Election Commission of India, State Election Commission, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department. We have asked caste-based development corporations to provide a list of beneficiaries. Once the survey data is available, it will be analysed according to the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court.'
Enumerators face challenges as SC survey is underway
At least four castes — Mansa in Dakshin Kannada district, Madiga Dasri in Raichur district, Kambatti and Mera — are likely to be recommended by the commission for inclusion in the list of scheduled castes. 'Though they have AD or AK or AA certificates, their castes are not part of the list. We are likely to recommend to the government to include them in the scheduled list,' Mr. Das said.
Mr. Das said that enumerators on the ground were encountering challenges such as people with Adi Karnataka, Adi Andhra and Adi Dravida certificates not knowing name of their original caste. Some who have AD, AK and AA certificates are not revealing their original caste because those castes are not in the SC list while some know their caste but are not revealing it.
When asked what would the commission do to the category that has identified themselves with AK, AD and AA, he said, 'We will take a decision on it.'
Speaking on the lag in enumeration, he said, 'The percentage of households covered is about 73 for Karnataka. In Bengaluru city limits, the coverage has been about 33% of the population, and there is a lag. We have asked the authorities to deploy more enumerators in SC dense population places, besides asking civic authorities to provide larger areas to enumerators where SC population is spread.'
Since getting more government school teachers is becoming a challenge, the commission had proposed roping in of private school teachers too.
Warning those obstructing the survey work in Karnataka, Mr. Das said, 'It has come to our knowledge that certain apartment complexes have not allowed enumerators inside their premises, which amounts to obstructing a public servant from discharging their duty. We have warned such RWAs of serious action. Why should we not cut off water and power connection to them for obstructing government work?'
Centre seeks info on app
The Union Government, which has announced a general census in 2026, has evinced interest in the app and enumeration work being conducted as part of the scheduled caste survey in Karnataka.
Mr. Das said, 'Subject to verification, this could be the first such experiment in the country. The Centre has sought information on the way the app was developed by the e-governance department, and conduct of the survey itself. We have replied to them.'
E-governance department Director R. Yathish said that every person interviewed by the enumerator is mapped through either Aadhaar, BPL card or caste certificate, and answers could be cross-verified on the Seva Sindhu portal. 'More than 90% will be verifiable data, which brings accuracy to the survey,' he said, adding that data is being collected both in online and offline mode on the app.