Census. Why? How?When?

Census of India 2011, fifteenth Census conducted in India…

Before I join as an officer in Directorate of Census Operations, I knew nothing about the process behind Census, a task of great national importance. Now I can give you in detail the whole process of Census. It is conducted at regular intervals for fulfilling well-defined objectives. Just listen.

India is a welfare state. Since Independence, Five Year Plans, Annual Plans and various welfare schemes have been launched for the benefit of the common man. All these require information at the grass root level. This information is provided by the Census.

Have you ever wondered how the number of seats in Parliamentary/Assembly Constituencies, Panchayats and other local bodies are determined? Similarly, how the boundaries of such constituencies are demarcated? Well the answer to that is also the Census. Census provided information on large number of areas. Thus, Census is not merely collecting information; it is actually a massive nation building activity.

Census of India 2011 is being conducted in two phases, namely 1) Houselisting and Housing Census 2) Population Enumeration. During the first phase of Census, census houses and households were identified and systematically listed in the Houselisting and Housing Census schedule during the period April to September 2010 in different States/Union Territories. Apart from listing of houses, some useful data on the amenities available to the households were also collected for assessing condition of human settlements, housing deficits etc.

Don’t you also feel this is a great task? I am sure that you do. But you know how much we had to suffer in conducting the first phase and how much we are struggling to conduct the second phase. Our Directorate serves an intermediate between the Central and State Govts and an aid for the Local authorities to conduct the Census. Sound so easy na? Let me tell you NO.

English ka suffer, S U F F E R… no other word to describe situations we are going through at times… Communication should always be in the right way and right language and strictly official. This is the first lesson I learned. In all charges, retired officials are appointed as Census assistants. It is very difficult to be hard and rude to them. But at the same time, it is very difficult to make them understand the work also. By default, the head of Corporations, Municipalities, Towns and Taluks are the Census in-charge. Sometimes, they will not be co-operative. That is a worse situation where we have to try catching fish without getting hand wet. Sound funny eh?

Being a lady is both blessing and curse in this job also. Sometimes, everything will get completed on time, but sometimes, get delayed just to make me listen to their stupid comments and flatters. Let me tell you, it is difficult to escape from such situations.

As you all know, teachers are deputed as enumerators. When they are appointed as a teacher, they agree to work in decennial census and election duties also. But the moment they receive the appointment order as an enumerator/supervisor, they start crying. In fact, I really felt bad for then being irresponsible. You are deputed for some work that is for our nation. You teach the students to be responsible, punctual etc. Why you are not giving 40 days in 10 years to do this work? This work can’t be finished without your help. Even we will be taking part in your survey.

Somehow, we finished the Phase1. Huh!!! NOOOOOOOO. It’s not over… What about Packing up the schedules, despatch and Scanning and all. That was another head ache. Enumerators submit the schedules in some manner, authorities pack up in another manner and we get it in a strange way we never wanted. The schedules are tampered, filled-in wrongly, particulars are not written properly etc. See, how dedication the enumerators have. Everyone thinks that, what is the big difference is makes if I alone does the work perfectly. If all the enumerators are thinking in the same way, there is no wonder in getting wrong results.

Why does everyone blame Government and activities/plans initiated by Government? How many of us have the right to blame our Government? How many of us are good citizens of our country? How many of us fulfill the duties to the nation? How many of us do the work entrusted in you without showing faces? Why the responses are less? Why? But everyone has the voice to fight for our Right and only for Rights. Shame on you. You are not trustworthy. But you can question the trustworthiness of the administration system.

I am not trying to say that the Government and our administration is perfect and good where we are not. I want to remind you to do your part. Be honest in your work at least. Little deed of kindness and honesty help to make some movements in this society. I do strongly believe in that.

Population Census provides valuable information about the land and its people at a given point of time. It provides trends in the population and its various characteristics, which are an essential input of planning, develop sound policies and programmes aimed at fostering the welfare of the country and its people.

The field work of the second phase i.e., Population enumeration will be carried out during 2011 Feb9-28 through out India. Each person is getting enumerated and individual particulars are getting collected. Hope it will be conducted better than previous Census.