HYDERABAD: The dreaded nativity column could be, fortunately, missing from the final questionnaire drawn up by the Telangana government for its massive August 19 survey. But that has failed to quell the anxiety among the state's residents, thanks to another 'controversial' query that has cropped up in the 'Intensive Household Survey-2014' questionnaire ? the one pertaining to an individual's banking particulars.

A glance through the exhaustive five-page survey form shows that the government, along with other information, has also sought the financial details of a resident (Part D, Question No 12, 13 & 14), complete with the name of the bank, branch and account number. And as proof of this account being active, residents are expected to submit a copy of the first page of their bank passbooks. In fact, unlike a few other columns that have been marked optional, these questions have intriguingly been listed under the ?mandatory' field as per the manual released by the GHMC.

Perplexed residents are now questioning the ?motive' behind this exercise and whether it is safe to share such details with enumerators. "In today's day and age, when financial institutions themselves appeal to its customers to safeguard their account details and not share them readily even with friends and family, I fail to fathom how the state government can make it mandatory for residents to provide the same," asked advertising professional T Appa Rao, adding: "While we understand that the government might need these details to extend welfare schemes to a certain section of society, I don't think it can be made compulsory."

Rao's concern was seconded by entrepreneur Kamal Maliramani , who confessed that he was "taken aback" on seeing this column in the model questionnaire released by the Telangana government. "I am not sure I am comfortable with these questions. Who knows how this information will be used in the future. And in case there is any misuse, while the government take responsibility for it?" he questioned, wondering if state authorities are well within their right to even pose such questions to its residents.

Meanwhile, banking officials maintain that the question cannot be marked mandatory. "Under no circumstances can residents be forced to give out their bank details. It is entirely their prerogative to either share or not share this information. Also, it isn't safe to randomly disclose such private info," said S Das, a senior executive with a nationalized bank.

In fact, another senior banker, on condition of anonymity, shared that residents can take legal action against the government in case they are compelled to give out this information. "This exercise sounds a bit fishy. Also, it isn't a legal notice that people cannot defy. If they wish they can withhold their bank details or take the legal route in case the government is adamant," the banker added.

An enumerator who underwent training for the survey on Wednesday, however, claimed that "no part of the questionnaire was mandatory". "Even if a resident does not want to sign the form, it is fine," the enumerator said, hoping to quell the concerns of people living in the new state.

