Bengaluru, Apr 7 (DHNS): As many as 1.3 lakh surveyors will conduct the caste census involving 1.26 crore households across the State from April 11.

Addressing reporters on Monday, chairperson of the Karnataka State Backward Class Commission, H Kantharaj, said the census form would cover 55 questions. While the Scheduled Castes and Tribes have been placed in columns B and C, respectively, other castes have been put in column A.

The exercise, concluding on April 30, will cover the socio-economic and educational status of the citizens of Karnataka.

“It is not mandatory to answer all the questions in the census form, but it is the residents’ duty to do so. People who provide false information about caste, based on bogus certificates, could face serious action,” said Kantharaj.

He said the government improved upon the existing list every 10 years so that it could formulate welfare policies better. He, however, clarified that the socio-economic census was not meant to restrict the legitimate benefits to the backward communities. He ruled out the possibility of including any new community in the category of ‘untouchables’. “The government has taken various steps to eradicate intouchability,” Kantharaj said.

20 minutes at each house

Kantharaj said the enumerators had been trained to complete the census in 20 minutes in each house.

“Previously, the survey would take at least 40 minutes. Now, most people have enough data and records with them and that will make it easy for the enumerators to get the desired information quickly,” said Kantharaj.