‘Caste census’ to help Food Dept. too in gathering data

The Department and Food and Supplies is hoping to ride piggyback on the soon-to-be launched Social and Educational Survey in Karnataka (popularly called ‘caste census’) to bolster its ration card database and eventually link it to the National Population Registry (NPR).

This idea had been mooted by the former Commissioner Harsh Gupta, and the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, which will conduct the census, has agreed to elicit information in the survey that will facilitate this process.

Columns added

Columns have been added in the survey format on unique identification (UID) number and electors photo identity card (EPIC) number under ‘Personal Information’ category and ration card number under ‘Family Information’ category.

“The commission’s house-to-house survey is based on the National Population Register (NPR) data. So, if they collect EPIC or UID with the ration card number from the families, ration card data can be linked later on to the NPR data based on the common key of either the ration card number or the EPIC/UID number,” explained Mr. Gupta. He added that this would make it easier to identify the ineligible below the poverty line (BPL) card holder through the software and to ensure that the eligible ones get it.

Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao told

The Hindu that the census could “enormously help the department gauge the economic status of families, being a massive and important data collection exercise.” It could save duplication of work by the department to collect this data again, he added.

Limitations

Sources in the backward classes commission, however, cautioned there could be only “limited application” to this exercise.

“We have added the columns according to the request, but enumerators can only record the information if provided and not compel them. We can share the data with the department, but it would be up to them to verify it,” said the source.