Kodagu Caste Survey Stalls Amid Technical Glitches and Challenging Conditions

As of September 27th, 2025, the caste survey being conducted by the State Backward Classes Commission in Kodagu district is facing significant challenges, leading to slow progress. The survey, which aims to assess the social and educational conditions of families across the district, has a target of covering 1.2 lakh houses. However, on the first day, only 2,500 houses were surveyed due to a combination of adverse weather, technical issues, and logistical challenges.

Persistent rain across the district has hampered the efforts of the survey staff, who are also grappling with network problems and server outages. These technical difficulties have resulted in delays, as enumerators struggled to access necessary data and complete the survey process efficiently. The geographical spread of houses, often located far apart, further complicates the task, with enumerators spending hours at each location due to network issues.

The enumerators, many of whom are teachers, face additional challenges, including health risks from leech bites and threats from stray dogs. These conditions have led to frustration and health concerns among the staff, with some requesting to be relieved from their duties. The technical glitches have also extended to the mobile app used for the survey.

Despite cooperation from the public, the delays have led to complaints about the slow pace of the survey. The pressure to meet targets in a short time frame is mounting on the enumerators, who are dealing with fear and hesitation caused by the challenging conditions in the district. In response to these issues, the district backward classes department officer, Deepak, acknowledged the statewide server problem and assured that efforts are underway to resolve it. He expressed confidence that the survey would be completed within the remaining time frame, despite the ongoing challenges.