The massive integrated household survey being undertaken by the Telangana government on August 19 across all the 10 districts has created a sense of fear, confusion and worry over disclosing certain information among people.
If some feel that the survey is only to weed out bogus beneficiaries of the welfare schemes, there are others who are sceptical as to why the government should insist on divulging certain crucial information about paying taxes, property and individual bank account details.
Interaction with people from Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal and Khammam districts reveals the apprehensions in the minds of people, not to speak of the issues relating to logistics haunting the government staff deputed on the job. People who spoke to The Hindu across Telangana had their own tale of woes as the D-Day approaches fast.
The government and private employees working in Hyderabad but hailing from mofussil towns of the State are desperate to make a dash to their respective hometowns. Residents of Hyderabad and other parts of the country and those owning properties in Telangana districts are worried about the inclusion of their names in the household survey. There is a big confusion about whether they should enrol their names in Hyderabad or go back to their native places.
Renuka of Sangareddy town said her husband is a government employee, but stays in Beeramguda for the purpose of their children’s education. “Where should we furnish the details, Sangareddy or Beeramguda?” she queried.
The plight of migrants stuck in Gulf is a cause of worry for their family members and so is the case with the NRIs settled abroad. Unofficial estimates show that more than two lakh people from Karimnagar district alone have migrated to Gulf countries. Villagers in Nizamabad pointed out that the very purpose of the survey is likely to get defeated since there is no column seeking information on expatriates.
The biggest concern is about revealing personal details. The details with regard to immovable property are required to be disclosed in section C and H. Also section D requires the respondents to disclose their bank account number and those with multiple accounts may find the question rather unsettling.
“Why should I reveal details of bank accounts and other assets when I am not a beneficiary of any welfare scheme except LPG connection,” Sharma of Sangareddy asked even as R. Chandra Prabhakar of Karimnagar town said: “Why should we disclose our properties, which are our personal, to the survey officials?”
The survey has created some misgivings with regard to disclosure of bank account numbers and details of immovable properties owned by respondents in Adilabad. Not many are willing to part with correct details for obvious reasons and the survey is not likely to project a realistic picture in this regard.
“About 20 per cent of the registrations in Adilabad are benami transactions. Both businessmen and government employees purchase houses, land plots and agriculture land which they do not disclose in their income tax returns,” reveals a document writer at the Adilabad Registrar’s office. According to bankers, however, the Reserve Bank of India banking norms do not require individuals to part with the bank account numbers if they do not wish to do so.
A common refrain in Warangal is should they show evidence. “Should we disclose our assets? Will it affect the present pension? Will they stop the housing scheme?” an elderly person queried. Same concern was echoed by Lakshmi, wife of a migrant labourer from Prakasam district, who migrated to Medak district in search of employment. “I am from Andhra Pradesh and my husband works as a labourer here. Will we lose our ration card or monthly ration after the survey?” she asked.
(With reporting by S. Harpal Singh (Adilabad), P. Ram Mohan (Nizamabad), K.M. Dayashankar (Karimnagar), R. Avadhani (Sangareddy), G. Srinivasa Rao (Warangal)
