On the eve of the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2011, which begins tomorrow throughout the country, Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil released a Special Commemorative Postal Stamp on Census 2011. Shri P Chidambaram, Union Home Minister, Shri Gurudas Kamat, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Shri G.K.Pillai, Union Home Secretary, Dr C Chandramouli, Census Commissioner, India and other dignitaries were present.
The Indian Census has been the most credible source of information on Demography, Economic Activity, Literacy & Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanization, Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Language, Religion, Migration, Disability and many other socio-cultural and demographic data since 1872. Census 2011 will be the 15th National Census of the country. The Government has also decided to prepare a National Population Register (NPR) along with Census 2011.
After successfully completing the first phase of Census, called the Houselisting and Housing Census from April to September 2010, the second phase called the Population Enumeration will be conducted simultaneously all over the country from the 9th to 28th of February 2011.
This is the only source of primary data at village, town and ward level. It provides valuable information for planning and formulation of polices for Central & State Governments and is widely used by National & International agencies, scholars, business people, industrialists, and many more. The delimitation/reservation of Constituencies - Parliamentary/Assembly/Panchayats and other Local Bodies is also done on the basis of the demographic data thrown up by the Census.
It may be recalled that the details required for the National Population Register was also collected during the first phase of Census. NPR would be a Register of usual residents of the country. The NPR will be a comprehensive identity database that would help in better targeting of the benefits and services under the Government schemes / programmes, improve planning and help strengthen security of the country.
The Census has rightly been described as the largest administrative exercise in the country. Spread across 35 States and Union Territories, the Census would cover 640 Districts, 5767 Tehsils, 7742 Towns and more than 6 lakhs villages. More than 24 Crore households will be visited during this exercise. To carry out this massive exercise more than 27 lakh people will be engaged.
In terms of cost, the two exercises of the Census and NPR are estimated to cost the exchequer of the country slightly less than Rs.6000 Crores. Around 12,000 Metric Tonnes of paper will be utilised for printing 64 Crore Census Forms and 50 Lakh Instruction Manuals. To add to the complexity is the fact that the Census Forms are printed in 16 languages and the Instruction Manuals in 18 languages.
The Census is a statutory exercise conducted under the provisions of the Census Act 1945 and Rules made there under. Under the Statute it has been made mandatory that the fullest cooperation of not only the Government and its staff but also the public at large be given for a successful conduct of operations. Failure to do so can invite adverse consequences including fines and punishments.
The Census process involves visiting each and every household and gathering particulars by asking questions and filling up Census Forms. The information collected about individuals is kept absolutely confidential. In fact this information is not accessible even to Courts of law.
It is needless to emphasise that such an ambitious exercise such as the National Census cannot be successful without the complete cooperation of the people. It has been a common experience that vulnerable sections of the society like the elderly, infants, young children, women, the disabled and people belonging to the weaker sections of society get left out of the count either because the enumerator does not ask about them or the respondents do not reveal their presence. It is absolutely essential that no one is left out.
Source; Business Standard , Feb. 8, 2011
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