Pune: Barely literate employee found conducting survey for Maratha quota; video goes viral

File photo for representation. PTI

In a surprising turn of events, a survey enumerator employed by the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation, with an educational background limited to Class 1, has been exposed while collecting data for the Maratha quota survey. The incident gained attention after a video showcasing the employee's inadequacy went viral, leading to his removal from survey duties.

The Maharashtra government is conducting the survey to collect data for justifying reservations in jobs and education for the Marathas, and has roped in 1.4 lakh employees as the exercise is to be completed by month-end, newswire PTI reported

A viral video showed one such enumerator, named Manoj, being asked by respondents whether he had received any training.

He replied that he was a helper with the electrical department, and though he received training, he did not have much knowledge about the task as he has studied only up to Class 1.

He did not even know how to use a smartphone and was taking the help of a youth, he said. The enumerators, notably, are using an app while collecting information.

When contacted, assistant commissioner (administration) Meher Lahare said the employee has been since taken off the survey duty.

"When we gave training, he did not refuse. After receiving training, he carried out survey at 30 to 40 houses. If he was facing difficulties, he should have complained to his supervisor. We have replaced him now," the official told PTI.

With Maratha activist Manoj Jarange set to start a fresh agitation over the quota demand in Mumbai from Friday, the government is under pressure to complete the survey.

On January 23, aMaharashtra government said that a comprehensive survey, mandating the participation of more than 1.25 lakh enumerators and officials, is set to kick off across Maharashtra. The survey aims to bolster the state government's curative petition in the Supreme Court for the Maratha quota. State Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil emphasized on Monday that enumerators have been given clear instructions to ensure an error-free process.

"The workforce of over 1.25 lakh enumerators, including superintendents and officials, has been appointed for this task. Their training is complete, and the survey will be conducted from Tuesday until January 31, covering all 36 districts, 27 municipal corporations, and seven Cantonment boards in the state," Vikhe Patil said. (With inputs from PTI)