Survey a superhit: KCR

• But, people at a loss over its purpose
• Cagey of parting with bank and assets info
• No slips, no identity cards after the survey

Hyderabad: In what is billed as the first exercise of its kind anywhere in the country, an intensive household survey was taken up across Telangana. It was a virtual shutdown in the state on Tuesday as nearly four lakh government employees and private volunteers conducted a massive one-day exercise to find out who lives in the state and what their profile is.

All institutions, including offices, schools, colleges and markets remained closed and most public transport was off the road.

Enumerators did not press for any details that the people found difficult to part with. People readily participated, hoping that they would get government benefits in some form or other. There were scores of sceptics too, who feared loss of their confidential data and did not submit them.

On the whole, people appeared to be at a loss as to the purpose of the survey, with most details being known to the government in some way or the other. When the Union Government launched Aadhaar cards, all those who applied were given a receipt, but in this case no receipt was given and when asked whether the government would issue some kind of identity card, the enumerators said that no such card would be issued.

Nevertheless, people took part in it enmasse, though leaders like Nagam Janardhan stayed away, saying there was no legal sanctity for such a survey.

However, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao maintained that the survey was a super hit. "It is a Super hit survey and a bold move. The government will utilise the data for assessing the population of the new state and Hyderabad city. Originally, we thought Hyderabad has a population of about 75 lakh people but now it appears there are 1.20 crore,” said Chandrasekhar Rao. “I think such an exercise should be replicated all over the country,” he said. He once again brushed aside the criticism by opposition and allegations that it was aimed at singling out people from Andhra Pradesh living in Hyderabad.

“Even the AP Chief Minister has given his details and I am happy about it,” he said. According to Rao, in Hyderabad 80 per cent of the households were covered by 6 pm. However, the unprecedented mega survey across the State, however, was not without its share of slip-ups and goof-ups, triggering protests at several places. Many households refused to sign the proforma across the State. People in some parts of Khammam protested as enumerators said they would record the details of only those households where stickers were pasted during the pre-survey. Finally, officials relented. In some areas in Hyderabad, people complained that enumerators refused to take the details of tenants, insisting that they had owners names only in their lists. Some celebrities like Dasari Narayana Rao and Pawan Kalyan refusted to part with some details of assets and family. Five Enumerators in Mahabubnagar were suspended as they failed to paste stickers on doors after survey. It triggered widespread protests. Despite the CM saying that survey details would be placed online, GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said it would not be accessible to all and hence there is no scope for misuse.

As promised, there was no nativity column, but from the caste and sub-caste details given, one can surmise the nativity. In Karimnagar, police had to intervene as villagers demanded that the government first distribute land and then take up survey.

One person attempted suicide in Jagityal as the enumerators refused to record his details saying he should go to his native village. RDO finally took the details from him. Sircilla, which is the hub of weavers, protested and forced the enumerators to note down their liabilities like loans. “Why should the government seek details of assets only, why not loans also?” they questioned. At some buildings in Hyderabad, enumerators found it difficult as up to five families stay in small portions of an independent house and all have the same address.

Some college students, who were taken as enumerators, were promised Rs 500. But several said they got anything between Rs 50 and Rs 150. At some places, no money was paid at all. In Jaggaiahpet, a woman delivered a baby on the road as she could not get an auto to reach the nearby hospital.

The survey began at 7 am across the state with enumerators going door-to-door to gather information like names, age, educational qualification, profession, Aadhaar card numbers, bank account number, LPG connection property and other details of the family members. GHMC officials said that the survey would continue today till the enumerators complete survey of the houses allotted to them.

Though in the beginning, the officials said that each enumerator would be allotted 20 houses, in reality each one of them had to cover about 40 houses. Interestingly, though it was supposed to be a one day affair, some enumerators had started the survey on Sunday itself by distributing a draft proforma for the people to get ready with their details.

The GHMC commissioner who is the nodal officer personally went to Raj Bhavan and the camp office of Chief Minister with his team and took their details. The survey received bouquets and brickbats from the people. Rangaiah, a businessman was all praise for KCR. “He is doing what no other leader dared do. This will help weed out bogus ration cards and real poor can get benefit of social welfare benefits doled out by the government,” he said. George Andrews, a retired employee of a state-run electrical company in Hyderabad, said he and his friends did not to provide any information about their bank accounts. "It is not that I am having something to hide about my accounts," Andrews said. "Why they require that information? We are not convinced, so we will not cooperate with that part," he said. However, the enumerators did not seek any information about the ration cards. When asked officials say that there was no need for it since the government can get all details about the card he holds, whether he is a beneficiary of Indiramma housing and can make out who the illegal beneficiaries are. Some fear that the government can easily identify the nativity of people based on their surnames and hence the survey has a clear hidden agenda.

Ravi Shankar, a chartered accountant said, "My concern is the security of data. It can be misused."

In many areas of Srinagar Colony, Dilsukhnagar, Ambedkar Colony, people waited in their houses for the enumerators. Ramesh, an autorickshaw driver, said he didn't mind losing the day's earnings because this was an important exercise. "My father lost a leg during an accident last month, hopefully will start getting a disability pension,” he said.

Though many city BJP and Congress leaders, including TPCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah participated in the survey, another BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy told The Hans India that he had not participated in the survey because it did not have any legal sanctity.