Gaon chalo — to collect data on caste,development

According to party insiders,this is the first time the party is using such an extensive questionnaire in its campaign.

A leader,who will be heading for villages said: “We have been given a written questionnaire. While talking to people during chaupal baithaks,we will get basic questions — relating to schemes and facilities — answered. Later,we will hold door-to-door meetings and get details about prominent people and caste structure. The data will then be compiled by our workers.”

The four-page questionnaire contains around 20 questions. In its first part,the questions are related to the number of hours the village gets electricity,the number of hand-pumps,irrigation facilities,road connectivity,cooperative societies,condition of health centres,schools and facilities like mid-day meal and teacher-student ratio,the beneficiaries of Indira Awas Yojna and MGNREGS,families affected by droughts or floods,number of toilets constructed under the Total Sanitation Campaign,BPL and Antyodaya card holders and pensioners of various schemes.

The second part seeks details on caste structure,the number of voters,voting pattern in last elections,and prominent locals.

A leader said the information will help the party be aware of the caste equations,which would reflect in ticket distribution too. The report will be sent to the party headquarters and Gadkari’s office.

Party spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the answers will authenticate what the party says about governance in the state and the Centre. “During campaign,we are telling people how our policies have changed states like Bihar. We want to start off our election campaign and get down to basics,” said Pathak.