Gated communities resist surveys: Union Government and Hyderabad face similar hurdles

Hyderabad: Non-response among high-income groups and gated societies presents significant challenges during surveys, reveals Union Minister of Planning, Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Rao Inderjit Singh in reply to a question from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. The situation is similar in Hyderabad during the ongoing Telangana social economics, education, employment, political and caste (SEEEPC) survey.

Hyderabad MP sought details regarding whether the government is facing challenges gathering data from higher-income sections, particularly those in gated societies in urban areas.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) conducts sample surveys. MoSPI acknowledges that large-scale sample surveys frequently encounter practical obstacles, with non-response emerging as a critical issue. “The large-scale sample surveys often face practical challenges, with non-response being a significant issue. This occurs when selected samples fail to provide requested information or submit unusable data, contributing to non-sampling errors.”

This is related to the Telangana state government, which is conducting SEEEPC survey. The government boasts to have completed 95 percent across the state as of Wednesday. A total of 1,18,02,726 households were identified in this comprehensive house-to-house survey. As of Wednesday, information collection was completed in 1,10,98,360 households, and data from 7,04,366 households is yet to be collected. Within the GHMC limits, out of 25,05,517 houses to be surveyed, 20,15,965 houses have been surveyed, reaching 80.5 percent.

Surveyors battle resistance in Hyderabad’s luxurious enclaves

Residents questioning survey legitimacy, resistance from high-income households, and hesitation to disclose financial information, especially regarding loans are some of the challenges faced by field surveyors.

When HyderabadMail contacted, a surveyor who was hired to conduct the survey in GHMC limits said, “We are facing huge challenges in the survey. Residents are questioning our presence and sometimes even slamming doors. Most are unwilling to share details, especially in gated communities with well-to-do families. Their primary concern is that they don’t belong to a marginalized category and won’t be eligible for government schemes.”

Another enumerator added significant challenges, particularly in gated communities. Further, the surveyor said, “Many respondents are reluctant to participate. Wealthy families often claim they won’t be eligible for government schemes and refuse to provide details.”

Seconding the same, Union Minister of Planning, Statistics and Programme Implementation reply says “Nonresponse among high-income groups and gated societies presents particular challenges, as these respondents have unique motivations and barriers to participation.”

Furthermore, the surveyor added that, “There are particular questions regarding whether the family had any loans which most of them are not ready to disclose as there are reverse questions whether government will help them to clear it and even hopeful had the same questions in mind.”

In September 2024, MoSPI organized a brainstorming session in response to these challenges. The objective was to develop strategies to contribute valuable data and build trust among the non-responding target population by educating them on the importance of data and privacy policies.