Around two weeks ago, residents across Bengaluru discovered stickers on their doors declaring their caste survey was complete, even though no such survey had been done. This sparked confusion and prompted nearly 4,000 people to call a helpline launched by the Social Welfare Department in Vasanthnagar.
The state’s caste census, intended to support internal reservations for Scheduled Castes, began May 5 and wrapped up this Sunday. The helpline, operational since April 27, received over 42,000 calls statewide, with Bengaluru alone accounting for 10,000.
Project Manager Sreenath noted that 99% of Bengaluru calls came after June 25, once the “sticker incident” became widely known. Initially, the helpline fielded about 400–600 calls daily, but after the controversy, volumes jumped to 900–1,300 per day.
Many residents reported stickers appearing without any verification. These complaints were forwarded to BBMP for action. Early queries mostly sought clarity on the survey timeline and process. Later, confusion over sub-caste codes, such as similar-sounding community names, became a frequent issue.
Residents could also submit caste details via an online self-declaration form, which caused minor concerns about typos and formatting. Fewer than 1% of complaints related to this mode.
The helpline, which expanded from six to 16 staff, remains active to handle ID or missed survey issues. Some citizens expressed anger over governance, while others asked why their homes were marked if they weren’t eligible.