Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, called on the state’s residents to engage in the ongoing census, emphasizing that only Indian citizens are eligible, barring Bangladeshi or foreign nationals. Speaking after Maharashtra Foundation Day celebrations, Minister Bawankule addressed various crucial topics like digital census, infrastructure, agriculture, and public safety.
Highlighting the move towards a “Digital India,” the Minister underscored the unique aspects of the current census and the government’s dedication to regional progress. He revealed that India’s 8th census will be conducted digitally for the first time, allowing citizens to ‘Self-Enumerate’ from May 1 to May 15.
Encouraging the public to accurately input their details via the digital platform, Bawankule outlined the process where enumerators will visit homes from May 16 to June 14 to verify data using mobile apps. The census aims to gather essential data on housing, religion, caste, literacy, employment, and migration to aid national policymaking.
Stressing the significance of citizen participation in the census for the country’s future planning, Minister Bawankule urged all Maharashtra residents to engage in this digital initiative. He also addressed concerns about wages flowing out of the state, emphasizing the government’s commitment to local interests and the signing of MoUs worth Rs 17 lakh crore with companies, ensuring 80% reservation for locals in new projects.
Reiterating the government’s support for farmers, Bawankule assured that Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to provide year-round road connectivity, electricity, and water to every farm. Stringent monitoring measures are in place to prevent farmer exploitation during fertiliser distribution. Additionally, the Minister clarified the criteria for legalizing residential encroachments on government land and announced a new ranking system to evaluate officials’ performance, with high achievers receiving official recognition.
