Telengana CM says skipping survey is a ‘social crime’

Hyderabad: Telangana State Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said preliminary reports of the survey indicated that the state’s population was around 4.5 crore (not 3.5 crore) and the number of households in Hyderabad could be around 20 lakh (not 15.82 lakh).

An excited Mr Rao also asked the Centre and other states to follow the Telangana State survey to wipe out irregularities and have clear data of various departments and socio economic status of people.

“The government's Samagra Kutumba Survey has surprised many. It went off exceptionally well. It’s unprecedented in the history of the country. The survey is an eye-opener. If you seek public cooperation, you can change the world,” he said.

“Earlier, we did not know anything. There was no proper data. DRDA had one figure, census had one figure, and the voters’ list had one. There was total confusion. At least we now have basic data. There is a declaration and a person will be held responsible for any misinformation,” he told media persons at his camp office on Tuesday evening.

When told that actor Pawan Kalyan, former TRS MP Vijayashanti and a few others had stayed away from the survey, Mr Rao said, “Some did not participate in the enumeration. Probably they do not want to stay here. If they don’t want to be counted in Telangana State, we are not bothered. If they want to live like tourists, let them live like tourists.”

Mr Rao also hit back at critics of the survey and those who had tried to stall it through various means. “Statistics and socio economic status of the state is very important for any government. We have been successful. Though some people tried to kick up a controversy, but their faces have been blackened. It’s a slap on face of critics,” he said.

“We don’t spare culprits. Even if it was my son or daughter, they would be sent to jail,’ he said. When a reporter wondered about the accuracy of the survey statistics, the CM said, “If there is mindful maligning, we will not care for that. We care for people not for shouters.”

“The country and state governments will have to follow our model. Even for the Government of India it’s an eye-opener,” he added.

Brushing aside apprehensions that the enumerators were college students, he said that the students only filled up the forms and were not asked to write poetry.

Talking about those who skipped the survey, Mr Rao said, “It’s not just for welfare measures alone. We have to ascertain the population’s needs. Why are you living here? The government ought to know the exact population, the road network, the water supply demand, etc. Those who abstained have committed a social crime.”