Caste census to cover 700k families in Mysuru

More than 6,400 enumerators began collecting data from 700,968 families from last week in Mysuru district for the Social and Educational Survey, which has come to be termed as 'caste census', as part of the state-wide drive of the Karnataka government.

According to the 2011 census, Mysuru has 700,968 families. A total of 5,417 enumerators, 884 supervisors, 65 master trainers, 32 charge officers and 8 additional charge officers are involved in the 20-day exercise, according to Assistant Commissioner Syeda Aisha.

Each taluk municipality and town panchayat in the district have been divided into 'charges' for the enumerators to visit households to collect data that includes details of their caste, sub-caste, religion, mother tongue, marital status, besides details like annual income, profession of the family, agriculture-based activity, education and social status. They should mention whether they have converted to any particular religion. It also provides an option for an enumerator to reject furnishing of caste information. Collection of such data would help in knowing the actual social and educational statuses of people of all castes, it is claimed.

While Mysuru City Corporation has 17 charges, the district comprises of 32 charges. There are 5,994 enumeration blocks in the district.

The enumerators have been given a two-day training on the methodology of collecting all the data. They are given survey handbook forms. According to the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission's directions, a pilot survey has been conducted in selected 10 blocks. Charge officers have been given training instruction through video-conference organised by the Commission. Seven data entry centres have been opened for data entry of the completed census forms in Mysuru city and all taluk centres.

Publicity drive has been conducted in the district to create awareness among households on the caste census.

The census was launched with enumerators collecting details from District-in-charge Minister V Sreenivasa Prasad. Prasad said the caste census being conducted after 80 years and it should be made successful. Debate over conducting the caste census had taken place. There have been complaints that the benefits of the government were not reaching on the basis of population. Hence collection of caste and other details had become vital necessitating making the census a success.