Enumerators involved in the ongoing census and house-listing exercise in Puttur and Kadaba taluks of Dakshina Kannada district have voiced serious concerns regarding the absence of basic safety measures, transportation facilities, and essential work kits. They have urged the district administration to take immediate remedial action.
Petition Highlights Hardships
In a petition submitted to the deputy commissioner through Puttur sub-division assistant commissioner Stella Varghese, the field staff—comprising government employees and teachers—detailed the challenging conditions they face while conducting door-to-door data collection. The enumeration covers remote villages, forest fringes, and hilly terrain, where many staff members are forced to walk several kilometers daily due to poor connectivity and lack of public transport. Some have to arrange vehicles at their own expense.
Lack of Protective Gear and Allowances
The enumerators pointed out that despite the critical importance of census work in shaping policy and governance, they have not been provided with basic protective gear such as identity badges, water bottles, umbrellas, first-aid kits, or power banks for digital devices. The absence of travel allowance and safety provisions has added to their hardship.
Safety Concerns for Women Staff
Women enumerators, in particular, expressed concern over their safety while traveling and working in isolated areas, especially during evening hours. The petition has called for group-based assignments and specific safety guidelines for female staff.
Health Risks and Recommendations
With rising temperatures in the region, enumerators warned of health risks such as dehydration, fatigue, and heat-related illnesses. They recommended revised work schedules that avoid peak afternoon heat to mitigate these risks.
Key Demands
- Provision of transport facilities in remote areas
- Distribution of complete enumeration kits
- Travel allowances
- Accident insurance
- Setting up of taluk-level control rooms and helplines for emergency support
Stressing that a safe working environment is a basic right, the enumerators have urged the district administration to conduct field inspections and address their grievances without delay. They continue to carry out one of the country's most crucial data-gathering exercises even as they await relief.
