Haryana is set to kick off the initial phase of Census 2027, India’s inaugural fully digital population enumeration, running from May 1 to 30. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, during a virtual conference, emphasized the Census’s significance beyond numbers, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping policy decisions, welfare schemes, and infrastructure planning for the upcoming decade.
Rastogi aimed to sensitize administrative heads and Principal Census Officers on the operational procedures, responsibilities, and timelines crucial for the Census’s success. He underscored that the efficiency of the Census would mirror the state’s administrative competence, technological preparedness, and coordination capabilities.
The Census data’s importance in evidence-based policymaking was stressed, citing the 2011 Census as an example where insights aided in identifying regions with imbalanced child sex ratios, leading to targeted interventions like the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative. Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners were highlighted for their pivotal roles in ensuring comprehensive coverage, enumerator and supervisor appointments, and adherence to government directives within specified deadlines.
Financial Commissioner Sumita Misra emphasized the need for error-free operations and comprehensive training of field staff, along with prudent fund utilization. The initial phase, focusing on Houselisting and Housing Census, will commence from May 1 to 30, offering citizens the option of self-enumeration through an online platform starting April 16.
Director Lalit Jain shared that over 50,000 houselisting blocks across 203 rural and urban areas would be surveyed, with a workforce of 50,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors deployed. A specialized mobile app, operational offline, will facilitate data collection, supported by real-time monitoring dashboards.
District-level coordination committees will be formed to ensure inter-departmental collaboration, accompanied by public awareness campaigns to foster trust and engagement. Officials reiterated the strict confidentiality of all personal data gathered during the census.
