The much-anticipated Social-Educational Survey officially commenced across various districts in southern Karnataka this Monday.
Dignitaries inaugurated the significant initiative, with Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, also in charge of Mandya district, launching it from the residence of Basavaraju in Mandya’s Ward No. 20. Concurrently, Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju, responsible for Kodagu district, inaugurated the survey in Madikeri.
The comprehensive survey employs a questionnaire with 60 detailed questions. Enumerators will be collecting information on family heads (including father’s and mother’s names), residential addresses, contact details like mobile and Aadhaar card numbers, ration card and voter ID details, total family members, religious and caste affiliations (including sub-caste and category), caste certificate numbers, dates of birth, age, gender, marital status, place of birth, educational attainment, and primary occupation of the household.
Emphasizing the broader scope of the initiative, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy clarified that this is far more than just a caste census. Instead, it’s a dedicated effort to truly understand the diverse social, educational, and economic realities of the people across the state.
He urged citizens to provide precise and complete information when enumerators visit their homes. Furthermore, he advised the enumerators to approach their interactions with patience and to frame questions clearly, ensuring the public fully understands and can respond accurately.
In Mandya district alone, a substantial team of 4,446 enumerators has been tasked with surveying 5,29,032 families. Each enumerator is responsible for a block of 120 families, with one supervisor overseeing every 20 enumerators, as detailed in an official statement.
The launch event in Mandya saw the presence of several key figures, including Mandya MLA Ravikumar, MLC Dinesh Gooli Gowda, Deputy Commissioner Kumar, Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini, and the Superintendent of Police.
In Kodagu, where Mr. Boseraju launched the survey, he highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring welfare programs reach all citizens. “To achieve this crucial objective,” he stated, “it is vital to accurately identify eligible individuals from backward classes and effectively deliver government benefits to them.”
Other notable attendees at the Kodagu launch included Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna (who also serves as the Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor), Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, and Kodagu Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Anand Prakash Meena.