Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 24: The enumeration work of the socio- educational survey in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district did not proceed in full measure even on Tuesday. While the survey could not be conducted on Monday due to technical glitches, hopes that it would run smoothly from Tuesday were dashed as the process did not progress as expected.

In the zones of Beltangady, Puttur, Sullia, and Bantwal, only a limited number of staff were engaged in enumeration. However, in Mangaluru South and Mangaluru North zones, the survey work was not carried out on both Monday and Tuesday. It is now expected to begin on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, confusion has arisen over the appointment of teachers and deployment of other staff for the enumeration task. In some places, teachers have not yet received house lists or survey kits, while in others, an excessive number of households has been allotted. Complaints have also emerged that even teachers with health issues, who had requested exemption from the work, were not spared.

In Mangaluru South and a few other areas, teachers have been burdened with both BLO (booth level officer) and enumeration responsibilities, creating difficulties. Objections have also been raised against the move to engage guest teachers from government schools for the survey.

Initially, officials had been requested to assign teachers to areas within 8 km of their respective school jurisdictions for survey work. However, many have now been posted to distant locations, which has been perceived as testing their patience. Teachers have also expressed dissatisfaction over being assigned to the survey without formal appointment orders.

“We have not even received attendance certificates, which are necessary to claim earned leave. While circulars are being sent through Block Education Officers directing us to attend training sessions, without attendance certificates it is difficult to comply,” some teachers questioned.

Teachers also pointed out that they have not yet received the honorarium for the last internal reservation survey, nor the attendance certificates. Despite submitting appeals through their association to the tahsildar, social welfare department, and deputy commissioner, no action has been taken so far, said a teachers’ association office bearer.

Dakshina Kannada district president of the Primary School Teachers’ Association, Shivaprasad Shetty, stated that the enumeration work has not yet begun collectively across the district. “Only a handful of teachers have started work. Many teachers are yet to receive house lists, and hence cannot conduct household visits. Initially, each teacher was told to cover 150 houses, but now some have been allotted up to 270 houses,” he said.

As the enumeration process could not take place fully on Tuesday, Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan H V convened an emergency meeting in the evening and instructed the concerned officials to rectify the technical problems, it is learnt.