Bengaluru, 25 Sept

The Karnataka government on Thursday said disciplinary action will be taken against government officials and staff who are not conducting the Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as "caste census" assigned to them.

Amid concerns about the slow pace of the survey, with technical glitches and server issues affecting the data gathering, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said things had improved on Thursday.

"It has been decided to take disciplinary action against the government officials and staff who have been deputed for the Social and Educational Survey that is underway, if they are not performing or attending their duty, as per the order. The authority to take action in the Greater Bengaluru Authority area has been given to the GBA Commissioner," Patil told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Asked about other districts, he said, "orders will percolate to districts as well. The Chief Minister is holding a meeting with Deputy Commissioners of all districts and CEO of all Zilla Panchayats tomorrow (26 Sept) through video conferencing, and he will give the necessary directions at the meeting."

Patil said disciplinary action against errant officials will be in accordance with the service rules.

According to officials, the survey had been delayed in the Greater Bengaluru area, where five corporations have been newly formed, on the request of the authorities, for training and necessary preparations.

The survey will see as many as 1.75 lakh enumerators, mostly government school teachers, covering around 7 crore people in approximately 2 crore households across the State.

The survey by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, which began on 22 September, is scheduled to go on till 7 October. The commission is expected to submit its report to the government by December.