What do you own? Tell the first BPL-cum-caste census

BANGALORE: The door-todoor headcount to identify the poor, including their caste and religion, will flag different sets of questions to respondents in urban and rural areas to ascertain their assets and status of health. The first-ever, paperless socio-economic and caste census 2011, currently under way in Tripura, will flag questions on how many households have refrigerator, telephone and motorised vehicles in rural areas.In urban areas, households will be asked whether they own a computer/laptop, washing machines and air-conditioners.
These are part of separate sets of questionnaires drafted by the ministries of rural development, housing and urban poverty alleviation, a copy of which is available with TOI. In urban areas, the census will capture data on chronic illnesses of respondents including cancer, tuberculosis and HIV, besides flagging questions on the frequency of wages earned and their main source of income. No proof or documents will be asked from the respondents.
HOUSEHOLD AMENITIES The census will include detailed questions on the household amenities of urban repondents. Data on availability of drinking water, main source of lighting, toilet facilities and separate kithen space in every urban household will be captured during the multiple-phase census that will be completed in all states by December, 2011. In Karnataka, the BPLcum-caste census will be held in two phases — November and December. As the questionnaire will have a set of questions that will automatically eliminate respondents from the below poverty line category, every household will be given an acknowledgement slip.
Households will have to give their consent for publishing their responses — expect religion and caste data — without which they will be ineligible to avail of benefits for BPL families.