Enumerators skipping Karnataka caste survey to face disciplinary action

The survey exercise that began on September 22 hit a roadblock after a section of teachers protested, urging to be relieved from enumeration duty, and technical glitches.

While teachers are enumerators in various parts of the state, the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes will carry out the exercise in the GBA limits with help from public servants, along with teachers.

Addressing a news conference Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister H K Patil said that while server issues hampered the enumeration process in the first two days of the exercise, there was a “lot of improvement since then”.

He said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will chair a meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers of various districts on Friday to address the challenges faced during the survey.

According to sources, the meeting is also likely to discuss disciplinary action against enumerators in different parts of the state who failed to conduct the enumeration.

The survey was hit due to protests by teachers in parts of the state, such as Udupi and Belagavi. The state government has deployed around 1.75 lakh teachers for the purpose.

The enumeration is scheduled to be carried out till October 9. On queries about whether low enumeration during the beginning of the survey would force the state to advance the last date of enumeration, Patil said that the government was yet to discuss the issue.