Srinagar, May 15 (Scoop News) –The first phase of conduct of Census-2011 commenced in Jammu and Kashmir today, by beginning the enumeration process with the Governor, N. N. Vohra, who is the first citizen of the State, at Raj Bhavanin Srinagar.
In this connection, a team of Census Officers headed by the Director of Census Operation, Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad, called on the Governor to launch the conduct of Census. The first phase of Census taking relates to house numbering, house listing and canvassing of National Population Register.
The Governor replied to the queries of the Census officials in regard to the details for house listing, house numbering and establishment of the National Population Register and recorded his signatures on the requisite forms filled up in his presence.
The Governor enquired about the training imparted to the Census staff and other arrangements made for conduct of this vital task in the State. He emphasized the need for creating greater awareness among the people at large, through the print and the electronic media, about the Census-2011 and its broad objectives.
The Governor, in a message on the occasion, said that the Census has evolved as the most credible mechanism for procuring valid information regarding the vital characteristics of the population, particularly the status of economic activity, literacy and education, housing and household amenities, urbanization, fertility, longevity, language, religion, caste, tribe, disability and varied other socio-cultural and demographic data. He said that the Census, which has been the essential source of primary data at village, town and ward level, provides valuable information for the planning and formulation of policies by the Central and State Governments. “The Census data also provides the basis for reviewing and monitoring the ongoing governmental welfare schemes and programmes and is profitably used by interested national and international agencies, researchers, scholars and others”, he added. He said that in this context, it needs to be recognized that the entire Census-2011 exercise is of crucial importance for the harmonious development of the State as the data to be collected shall be utilized by the planners and policy makers to lay the basis of future plans which are relevant to the requirements of J&K.
Meanwhile Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday underscored the importance of Census to build a comprehensive and dependable data base for perspective planning and holistic development.
Launching the 5th Census Operation in Jammu and Kashmir here this morning by filling up the data collection form, he appealed the people to provide correct information to enumerators and surveyors and help create factual data bank for all round progress and development of the State. He also called upon them to enthusiastically participate in the process and cooperate with the census workers.
“Your correct details about various aspects identified in the census forms could prove highly beneficial for drawing development plans and addressing socio-economic questions elaborately”, he said and expressed the hope that people will fully cooperate with the Census Department for successful conduction of the operation.
Omar said that census operation would help in organizing the plan processes as per the needs and requirements of the people and provide realistic material to the planners and policy makers to formulate area specific and public orientated development strategies.
The Chief Minister said that the first phase of census operation starting in the State from May 15, 2010 will be completed within 45 days. He said under this phase the detailed data regarding human settlements with details about the type of houses, provision of safe drinking water, disposal of sewerage etc. will be collected while the census population data will be compiled in February 2011. However, the census operation will be conducted in the month of August-September 2010 in the inaccessible areas covering both the details of houselisting , National population register and population data.