BHUBANESWAR: The first-ever socio-economic caste census (SECC), 2011, for determination of poverty has started in seven backward districts of the State. The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), nodal agency for supply of hand-held electronic devices for enumeration and recruitment of data entry operators, has provided 8,000 enumeration devices. However, there is acute shortage of data entry operators. The national PSU has deployed 2,520 data entry operators against the requirement of 5,527 in seven districts. The census operation was launched on Monday in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts. Survey was deferred in Nabarangpur district in view of the by-poll to Umerkote Assembly constituency. Some of the data entry operators deployed in Koraput district were found to be unfit as they do not posses requisite computer knowledge. ECIL executives monitoring the operation have assured to deploy the remaining data entry operators (DEO) in a couple of days. Though planned to start the field survey from mid-September, two floods in the third week of the month derailed the process. Besides, ECIL failed to deliver the consignment in time. Though ECIL had promised to deploy the DEO by November 4, the actual deployment was made a couple of days ago. The matter was reviewed by Panchayati Raj Secretary PK Jena on Mondayat a meeting attended by two senior executives of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited. The State Government has planned to complete the field survey by December 15. With the State Election Commission likely to announce the election to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions by second week of December, the model code of conduct would come into force automatically. In an earlier communication, the Central PSU had indicated that a minimum of 15 days are required to deploy, test and catalogue the devices at the charge centres. Meanwhile, the Government has appointed the enumerators and the supervisors and has completed training of the trainers (ToT) for the seven districts. The Ministry of Rural Development will decide the methodology for poverty estimation on the basis of the data collected from individual households for selection of BPL families. The Ministry, however, will consult the State Government and members of the civil societies before finalising the methodology.
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