Social Education Survey: Digitalised information to be stored with state data centre
Bengaluru: The ongoing social and educational survey, conducted by the State Commission for Backward Classes, has been digitalised, significantly simplifying the data collection process. All collected information is being directly stored in the servers of the State Data Centre (SDC).
K.A. Dayananda, Commissioner of the Backward Classes Welfare Department, explained that once the enumerators submit the information, it is immediately stored in the SDC servers, after which even they cannot see it.
“The High Court has strictly mandated the SDC not to share the data with anyone except the Backward Classes Commission. After the survey is over, we will take only the information that’s relevant for us. The commission will analyse the data alongside a team from the e-governance department,” Deccan Herald quoted him as saying.
During the Cabinet meeting held on October 9, the state government approved the development of new technologies at the SDC at an estimated cost of Rs 38.33 crore.
K.N. Lingappa, a member of the Backward Classes Commission led by H. Kantharaj, emphasised the importance of accurate data collection to make use of these advanced systems. “We had surveyed 94.5% of the population. They need to at least survey 95%. In rural places, the survey is doing well but the challenge will be in Bengaluru. Except for Brahmins, all other castes will enumerate themselves. Brahmins are not interested as they won’t gain anything from this survey,” DH quoted him as saying.
According to the commission, as of Sunday, 1.43 crore of the estimated 1.87 crore households (76.49%) have been surveyed across Karnataka.
The survey, which began on September 22, was initially scheduled to conclude on October 7. However, it has now been extended to October 18 across the state and until October 20 within Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA) limits.
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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.
