Why Telangana’s Intensive Household Survey is creating fears of exclusion, ethnic profiling

India's youngest state, Telangana, participated in an ‘Intensive Household Survey' on Monday and Tuesday as ordered by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The survey covers all the 10 districts of Telangana and is being done at an expense of ₹20 crore.

A state government holiday on August 19 has been declared so that people can participate in the survey.

Nearly four lakh government employees and volunteers will go door-to-door and gather information that will give the Telangana Government a database of residents across the state.

What is Telangana's Intensive Household Survey?

• The survey, according to TRS government, will help identify the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes in the state.

• The survey is being done to keep in check the undeserving claimants of various schemes like subsidised ration, scholarships etc.

• "If we can know the status of health, wealth and other details of every family then we can formulate our policies better," CM Rao said.

What all documents are needed for the survey

As per reports, families are supposed to produce the following documents before the people who are conducting the survey:

• Birth Certificate
• Caste Certificate
• Disability Certificate
• Vehicle Registration Certificate
• Air Conditioner
• Land Details
• Ration Card
• Voter ID Card
• PAN Card
• Aadhar Card
• Pension Book
• Gas/LPG Connection details
• Water Connection details
• Pets' details
• Income Tax payer's details
• Property Tax details
• Bank Account Details
• Electricity Bill

Many people have been worried about divulging some details. But, the state government assured to the court that they need not reveal all the details if they choose to. This came as a big relief for the worried lot.

Why are people worried?

• This survey is making the Andhra Pradesh settlers jittery.

• Seemandhra natives settled in Telangana fear exclusion from various benefits in the state.

• Many in Hyderabad think that the survey might be used to ascertain their nativity and deny the state benefits.

• Hyderabad and Secunderabad natives fear that the native clause in the survey might make them the victims of discrimination.

• Thus, people are rushing back to Telangana, fearing that they will lose their citizenship of the state if they fail to attend the survey.

What is the KCR Government saying?

• The government has denied that the survey will be used to determine nativity, or be misused for the ethnic profiling of those who are not from Telangana, but live or work in Hyderabad.

• The State Government has said that this will help them identify genuine beneficiaries and weaker sections in the state.

• This survey will help in identifying those who are ineligible for government benefits.

• Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said he will be like Hitler to stop injustice.

• "One says KCR is Hitler, another says KCR is dictator; 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," Rao said.

• "The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government wants to be target specific. It (the survey) is aimed at helping the people and the poor," he added.