The other day, two people knocked on the door. They were in their mid fifties. Both of them looked like the uncle and aunty one would spot in a Bhajan session. Tell tale marks of staunch Hinduism adorned them.
They came in on a sweltering hot afternoon. We asked them in, I gave them water to drink before they became comfortable on the Divan and the chair. The lady was carrying a big bag and she got some printed sheets out and said ‘we are here to do the census, we will not take much time, and can you give us some details?’ I felt happy to be participating in this event where in I get to say my status for Govt. database.
She pulled out her sheet, took a pencil and started asking Venky about his name, birth place, father’s name, education, income, what assets he owned etc. I was rehearsing my answers which would come when my turn came. It never did!!!!
She asked him about his wife’s name, her age, her father’s name, what she does, how old is she and took his signature on the sheet and both of them thanked us for our cooperation and left!!!!!!
What the hell just happened in here?????
Even if Venky had said that his wife’s name is Paris Hilton or Margaret Thatcher they would have written it down, would have taken his signature and left!!!!!
Don’t I get a chance to validate my presence? What about the data that can be corrupted by husbands who might take advantage of this situation?
I am fuming still…..
4 comments:
Ha ha! Remember all those SSA chaps we met at the workshop. They are the same ones who are going to be collecting data for Census. Did you imagine they'd talk to you! :-) Thank god they're not collecting caste data. Or are they?
They are collecting caste data and when Venky refused to share they said, we can not leave this blank so please understand!!! Intending that If we have issues with mentioning our caste then we should take it up with somebody else and not them!!!
Unfortunately for the census lady, I was the only one home when she came. I gave details of both parents. At one point, she asked me how many children my mother had. I said just me. She, brusquely, retorted,"Not how many she has now. How many she has given birth to!" And I, bemused, stared at her. And thought, if there were families who knew that loss, would this woman barge into their pain thus, asking a young girl if her mother had lost a child.
oh, and she judged my caste all on our own, pausing only for me to nod in response.
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