Enumerators interact with a family during a social and educational survey in Bengaluru’s Nagendra block. File | Photo credit: Murali Kumar K.
With the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes’ social and educational survey set to resume after the Deepavali holiday break on Thursday (October 23), all eyes will now be on the progress made in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) region by October 31.
The survey in the GBA region, which began on October 4, managed to record a progress of about 45.97%. Against an estimated 39.82 lakh households in the region, about 18.31 lakh households involving about 56.56 lakh have been completed till October 19. The previous survey conducted by the H. Kantharaj Commission in 2015 managed to reach about 85% of the Bengali population after several extensions.
Amid complaints about enumerators still trying to reach households, several households also refused to participate in the survey based on doubts and confusion floating around on social media. A few households also showed disdain and apathy towards the survey, fearing privacy issues.
While teachers, who were the backbone of the survey till October 19, when coverage reached more than 85% households, would no longer participate in the survey, staff and officials from various departments would continue the survey.
According to Backward Classes Department Secretary Thulasi Madineni, about 11,000 enumerators would continue the survey in Bengaluru as about 6,000 teachers would return to school. “The work is being redistributed among the 11,000 enumerators to ensure that the survey is completed,” she said, adding that the survey work in many districts has already been completed.
The survey, which began on September 22 across the state and on October 4 in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) region, was scheduled to end on October 7. However, with coverage far from satisfactory, the government extended the Dasara holiday for government and aid schools until October 19 to allow teachers to complete the survey. After the second deadline extension, the survey is expected to be completed by October 31.
As on Sunday, the survey managed to reach 1.43 lakh households in the state (excluding the GBA region) against the target of 1.48 lakh households, achieving 96.35% of the target and covering a population of about 5.42 lakh.
Another source from the Backward Classes Department said that except for three districts where the survey is between 85% and 90%, the rest of the districts have shown good progress. “In those districts that have reported 100% coverage, the deputy commissioner will take a call on how to proceed. In districts that are close to 100%, the survey would be continued by the staff of various unions.”
Published – 22 Oct 2025 19:58 IST
