Caste census enumerators in Karnataka yet to receive first installment of payment: Report
Bengaluru: Despite the Karnataka government extending the timeline for the ongoing social and educational survey and urging completion before Diwali, thousands of enumerators have yet to receive the first installment of their promised remuneration.
The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to disburse Rs 5,000 as the first installment to each of the 1.2 lakh enumerators involved in the survey—excluding those working within the Greater Bengaluru limits. The total payout was expected to exceed Rs 60.36 crore. The first installment was to be paid by the end of September. However, so far, enumerators have not received any amount, as reported by The New Indian Express on Wednesday.
The order mentioned that the remaining amount will be paid in the next installment.
Sources in the government said funds have already been released to Deputy Commissioners across districts. “It is DCs who are supposed to release funds to enumerators,’’ TNIE quoted its sources as saying.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently reiterated the payment structure, stating that each enumerator would be paid a lump sum of Rs 5,000, along with Rs 100 per household surveyed. On average, each enumerator is tasked with covering around 150 household.
Meanwhile, enumerators involved in the internal reservation survey for Scheduled Castes conducted by the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission earlier this year are also awaiting full payment. While they were promised Rs 15,000 for their participation, many received only Rs 3,000 in August, with no subsequent disbursal.
“Some of my colleagues who took part in the previous survey in May/June are yet to get their payment. This is very discouraging,’’ TNIE quoted a government teacher as saying.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
