In several apartment complexes, residents’ WhatsApp groups circulated advisories explaining the purpose of the survey and shared sample forms to help them prepare. However, residents still remained sceptical.
Published Oct 09, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 09, 2025 | 9:00 AM
The survey was originally scheduled to be completed on 7 October.
Synopsis: Karnataka’s ongoing socio-economic and educational survey has been hampered by widespread resistance from citizens in Bengaluru, where many residents are refusing to participate, citing privacy concerns and distrust regarding the purpose of data collection. Across other districts, enumerators have encountered technical glitches in the mobile application used for the survey, prompting the state to extend the original deadline for completion of the exercise.
Even as Karnataka’s socio-economic and educational survey continues to face technical glitches, confusion over caste enumeration, and protests by enumerators citing inadequate training across the state, officials in Bengaluru are grappling with a different hurdle: growing reluctance among citizens to take part in the exercise.
The survey, often also called a caste census, began within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits on 4 October, much later than in the rest of the state. This delay was due to the reorganisation of resources following the dissolution of the erstwhile civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, on 15 May and the creation of the GBA.
The survey was originally scheduled to be completed on 7 October. The deadline has since been extended to 18 October for the rest of the state and 24 October in Bengaluru due to incomplete enumeration.
“People here [in Bengaluru] have not opened their doors when we came for the survey. They refuse to answer many questions and in return, ask us why we are collecting so much information. They are very doubtful,” a teacher appointed as an enumerator in the ongoing survey in Bengaluru told South First.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had earlier acknowledged that the lengthy and “personal” questionnaire, comprising nearly 60 questions, might deter citizens in the city.
“There were too many questions. I have asked them to simplify it and ask fewer questions. People in the city will not have patience,” he said while speaking to reporters after the survey at his residence.
Even with a shortened list of questions, enumerators say residents remain irritable and dismissive.
In several apartment complexes, residents’ WhatsApp groups circulated advisories explaining the purpose of the survey and shared sample forms to help them prepare. However, residents still remained sceptical.
“It is about extracting information from the public and manipulating this to suit their agenda, which is polarisation of people based on caste, religion, economic status, etc.,” said one resident of an apartment on Kanakapura Road. He claimed that the purpose of the survey is “divisive” and urged other residents in the apartment not to participate.
Others expressed concern over the privacy implications of sharing personal data with the government.
“They asked me for details about my annual income. I am not sure how secure this survey or the app is. I have heard of glitches in the app in other parts of the state,” Ganesh, a resident of Thalaghattapura in Bengaluru, told South First. He worried that personal details could be leaked online, which, he said, might have professional repercussions.
Enumerators said resistance of this scale was not seen in other parts of Karnataka. “Many of them end up becoming irritated with us and become rude. But we have to do our job, otherwise we will not get paid,” said an anganwadi worker. Each enumerator is required to cover 10 to 15 households per day.
The Karnataka High Court on 25 September reiterated that participation in the survey is voluntary and that surveyors cannot compel people to provide information.
The Karnataka High Court on 25 September reiterated that participation in the survey is voluntary and that surveyors cannot compel people to provide information. The State Backward Classes Commission was also directed to file an affidavit on the measures it would take to ensure data security and confidentiality.
Many citizens in Bengaluru have since cited this order to refuse participation altogether. Enumerators are issuing refusal forms in such cases.
“The survey should instead check if there is a government school nearby, whether it is clean, has toilets, and enough teachers. Or whether hospitals have proper equipment and staff. These are the real questions the government should be asking,” said another Bengaluru resident.
Outside Bengaluru, enumerators have been battling technical issues with the mobile application used for data collection. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too acknowledged that technical problems were slowing down the enumeration process.
Anganwadi and ASHA workers, who form a large part of the survey workforce, have staged multiple protests over inadequate training and technical barriers. On 25 September, teachers in Bagalkot protested after facing difficulties in downloading the app used for enumeration.
Enumerators also reported problems in locating the exact addresses of households they were assigned to. In some cases, one teacher was allotted houses in different towns or wards, making it difficult to travel between the two areas for the survey.
In hilly regions with limited internet connectivity, enumerators struggled to generate OTPs. Some refused to take part in the survey because of the challenges faced during enumeration.
On 27 September, the Deputy Director of the Department of Women and Child Development, Raichur, dismissed six anganwadi workers for not participating as enumerators.
The order alleged that the workers had not only skipped participating in the survey despite repeated calls from supervisors but also encouraged others to do the same.
The Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’ Union strongly condemned the move.
“These workers are poor and did not have smartphones to use for the survey. The government has not provided them with the required facilities for the survey,” Varalakshmi, president of the union, told South First.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
