Caste census in Hyderabad sees poor participation; Opposition party leaders also stay away

Hyderabad: Telangana caste census has registered poor participation in Hyderabad so far. Many have been reluctant to give information to the enumerators. Even political leaders of Opposition parties Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janata Party have not participated in the survey.

Poonam Prabhakar, minister for transport and BC welfare department appealed on Friday to all political party leaders, public representatives, and officials to provide information to the enumerators for the caste survey.

Poonam Prabhakar appeals across political lines

Prabhakar said, “There is no politics in caste survey. Even when the BRS party collected information in the past, the Congress government in the Opposition provided all the details. Former chief minister KCR, Union minister Kishan Reddy and Opposition MLAs and their party leaders have not yet participated in the caste survey. We want all political leaders to cooperate in the caste survey.”

Prabhakar, in a video appeal on Friday morning, asked all political party leaders to participate and give their inputs for the survey. Prabhakar said, “If the political party leaders are not participating in the survey, it will mean that they are against the Backward Classes. We are here to enumerate the data for the benefit of people only.”

Complaints on enumerators high in Hyderabad

Apart from political leaders and their party workers, people in Hyderabad have not welcomed the census exercise by the enumerators. Many have complained that people have not answered their queries despite visiting the colony twice.

In many parts of Hyderabad, resident welfare associations (RWAs) and other groups were actively sharing information regarding the time of the visit by the enumerators, despite many people in the same groups not sharing information.

Families in many RWAs have asked enumerators not to visit their homes as they don’t want to participate in the survey.

There has been resistance, due to which the enumerators said that they have not got a positive response from many places in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and outskirts.

SCB areas are waiting for enumerators to visit

In Secunderabad Cantonment areas, people have complained that no one turned up to take the survey.

The enumerators came in the first week of November and put stickers outside every home. They were to come within two weeks and collect details. In some areas, it has been noted that only half the homes were covered and the other half were not done.

A resident at Ameerpet explained, “When we contacted the GHMC officials, they said that they will come in the second phase. Is there a second phase to be conducted?”

Musi project impacts Old City

In the Old City, despite help from volunteer groups and announcements in masjids to participate in the caste survey, there has been resistance. A Congress insider explained, “Many of them are linking caste survey to the Musi Riverfront Development Project. Despite, explaining the context people have lots of doubts. They are worried about sharing data as they don’t know how the government will use it.”

More than 5,000 calls to control room

The control room at Gandhi Bhavan got more than 5,000 calls from people who complained that the enumerators had not visited them.

There have also been more than 800 community groups of Backward Classes who have approached the control room in Telangana to ensure that the caste survey is carried out properly in the districts.

Santhosh Rudra, a member of All India Professional Congress and in charge of the control room said, “Various community groups have approached us and we have motivated their members to encourage full participation in the caste survey. In Hyderabad too, there are constant efforts with different communities and groups of people to make the survey a success.”

Rudra said, “The control room is working 24/7 for those who want to participate in the survey, we are asking them to send geo-location, point of contact and the municipality in which it falls. We are ensuring that the enumerators’ visit fulfils its mission.”

City shows a similarity between caste survey and voting pattern

A senior Congress leader explained, “In Hyderabad, there is a stark similarity between the caste survey and voting pattern. People are not interested despite sensitisation. In some places, the mindset of people is against the survey. Can one understand their reasons?”

In many places in Hyderabad, the enumerators were told by households that they didn’t want to participate. In some places, there is a lot of enthusiasm seen and in some there is nil.

Enumerators not coming to every house

People have also complained about enumerators who have skipped colonies and half-done jobs in many places. Prabhakar said, “If the enumerators have not come or have skipped, we are urging people to come forward and let us know. We want full participation of people in the survey to ensure that it is 100 per cent complete.”

1.17 crore families in Telangana

The Telangana caste census was set to cover 1.17 crore families in the State. The caste census has 56 parameters covered which include, education qualifications, type of school, annual income, bank details, employment and business status and caste-based work.

There are 85,000 enumerators for the work across Telangana. The survey in districts saw a lot of participation from the community but in Hyderabad city, the participation has not been as desired.