The Intensive Household Survey (IHS) to be conducted across Telangana on Tuesday has invited criticism for the questions on nativity and language in it.
The government has stated it wants to trace the true beneficiaries of state welfare schemes in Telangana but hundreds of thousands of Seemandhra natives in Hyderabad are visibly shaken.
The survey, proposed by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's government, will be carried out on Tuesday in over 80 lakh households by over 3.5 lakh government employees, at an expense of ₹20 crore, according to reports.
Officials distributed the forms required for the survey on Sunday, and collected the filled forms from the families on Monday, to ease much of the work.
The state government wants everyone to be at their homes on Tuesday for the survey, which is from 8 am to 8 pm.
What the government wants
At the time of the survey, families are supposed to produce the following information and copies of documents before the government employers conducting survey.
- Birth Certificate
- Caste Certificate
- Disability Certificate
- Vehicle Registration Certificate, including two and three-wheeler
- Air Conditioner
- Land Details
- Ration Card
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Aadhar Card
- Pension Book
- Electricity Bill
- Gas/LPG Connection details
- Water Connection details
- Livestock and Pets details
- Income Tax payer's details
- Property Tax details
- Bank Account Details
Identify genuine beneficiaries and weaker sections
According to the government, the survey will access household details across the 10 districts of Telangana to identify the weaker sections, which are eligible for state welfare schemes, including subsidised ration, pension, Aarogyasri benefits and fee reimbursement.
Rao had previously stated that the government is conducting the survey due to the lack of information about the statistics of genuine beneficiaries and also because of corruption in the implementation process of the schemes.
Clarifying the purpose behind the survey, Rao said that he would do anything to stop the injustice and corruption in the state.
"KCR is definitely Hitler for thieves. I want to be Hitler for the corrupt. I don't feel shy. KCR is Hitler to stop injustice. I can even be Hitler's grandfather," The Times of India quoted Rao as saying.
"The Telangana Rashtra Samithi government wants to be target specific. It (the survey) is aimed at helping the people and the poor," he added.
Migrants rush back to Telangana for survey
The natives of the newly-formed Telangana, working or studying in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu, reportedly took the first possible train or bus to be at their homes as they did not want to miss out on government benefits.
Passengers, who failed to get confirmed tickets, reportedly travelled in packed groups in the general coaches of trains. While many, who failed to make it either by buses or trains, are said to have hired vans for the journey to Telangana and back, according to reports.
People are understood to be rushing back immediately to Telangana, fearing losing their citizenship of the state on failing to attend the survey. These speculations and worries have not been addressed by the government yet, according to reports.
Seemandhra natives settled in Telangana fear exclusion from benefits
Commenting on the details being sought by the government, several Seemandhra natives who are settled in Telangana have expressed worries and fears of being excluded from the government benefits.
Many have reportedly expressed concerns over sharing bank account details and questioned the need to do so.
Pointing out that those below poverty line are the only beneficiaries of the government schemes, several above poverty line people have raised questions on the need to include them in the survey, which aims at tracing true beneficiaries.
Residents of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are said to have deep concerns about the nativity issue. Many fear that the native clause on the questionnaire might be used against them, making them victims of discrimination.
TDP says survey will drive away AP natives from Telangana
Telugu Desam Party senior legislator A Revanth Reddy alleged that Rao introduced the survey to push out Andhra Padesh natives from Telangana.
"This means Mr Rao has a set agenda. He wants to create fear among certain sections of people. That is why we suspect there is a hidden agenda behind the household survey," Deccan Chronicle quoted Reddy as saying.
He pointed out that the survey "should be done in a systematic and transparent way, but with the Chief Minister giving indications to officials that there will be series of checks and visits again to households, we suspect there is a hidden agenda."
However, Rao has reportedly dismissed such speculations, saying the survey is only meant to help the poor and not to trouble others.
