Forest, health, education dept staffers roped in for Karnataka caste census, errant officers to face action

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has roped in frontline staffers from the forest, health and education departments to expedite the ongoing Socio-Educational Survey, otherwise known as the caste census.

Using data of government staffers available on the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) portal, the office of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) sent messages and e-mails to staffers individually, ordering them to participate in training on October 3, and a census exercise from October 4, failing which an FIR will be registered against them under Section 223 of the BNS.

It warned that disciplinary action will be taken and they will be terminated from service. The order stated that no exemption is valid unless issued in writing by the GBA Chief Commissioner.

This has raised concern among government officials. A senior official said that with all permanent staffers roped in for the census, government work will now be done by contract employees.

A senior forest department official said, “Forest staffers are exempted from such duties, including election duty. We are writing to the GBA Commissioner, district commissioners, and chief secretary, pointing out that if there is man-animal conflict or any untoward incident, then we are not responsible.” The official added that all permanent staffers, including guards, watchers, range forest officers (RFO), deputy RFO, anti-poaching teams, and leopard and elephant task force staffers have been roped in for the census exercise. A forest department staffer said, “When we tried to reason, the GBA team advised us to complete census duty and then do department duties. But forest duty is not like a desk job. It is round-the-clock ground work, without timings.”

Similar concern was raised by health department officials, where staffers, including laboratory technicians, pharmacists, clerical and technical staff have been roped in for the census.

“Government hospitals are already complaining of problems, and with staffers gone, this will only get aggravated in the coming days. A list of staffers is being prepared, and will be handed over to the chief secretary for exemption,” a senior health official said.

However, education department officials expressed helplessness. The officials pointed to a shortage of teachers and lecturers, and that the government is not paying attention to the plight of guest teachers.

Now, with census duty and schools reopening after Dasara holidays, matters will only get worse.

“Holidays were cancelled for teachers. To ensure education is not affected, we had requested that only primary school teachers be roped in. But middle and high school teachers are also on census duty. For all government work, anganwadi workers and teachers are used. These two sections are very important in education,” said a senior education department official.

GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said government orders were clear on involving government employees.

At least 20,000 staffers are needed to complete the exercise in two weeks, and if government staffers are involved, it ensures credibility.

The story is written by Bosky Khanna for The New Indian Express