‘World Population Day’ is an annual event observed on 11th July every year since 1989 and seeks to raise awareness of issues relating to population. Population Census is the most comprehensive source of information for use by the government departments, educational institutions, voluntary organizations, corporate houses, academicians, research scholars and inpidual data users both within and outside the country. Census data is put in public domain on printed as well as electronic format.
Apparently, Census data has a great significance for developmental activities and in taking informed decisions. Needless to say, sensitization on Census data released is vital for which various ‘Data Dissemination Activities’ are carried out from time to time. As a part of the efforts to disseminate data from Census 2011, Dr. C. Chandramouli, IAS, Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has drawn a massive programme “Census & You” to sensitize school students. The programme is being implemented in about one lakh schools in the country toexpose school students on the significance of Census data.
Seema Jain, IAS, Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Science, Technology & Environment and also the Director of Census Operations, Punjab has said that in Punjab, “Census Week” is being celebrated from 7th to 12th July, 2014 in 3,000 schools spreading over all the 22 districts in the State. Lists of schools identified for this purpose have been obtained from the Education Department, Punjab. The objective of the programme is to sensitize students on the significance of Census data. The schools identified for this purpose have been provided with a School Kit. The School Kit Folder consists of items, viz; A letter to the Principal highlighting purpose of this programme, Message to be read in the School Assembly, Literature, Data Sheets, Census Quiz, Certificate, Census info-graphics India, Census info India pamphlet, Map, Census & You (DVD), etc. The winners of the School Quiz shall also be eligible to take part in an on-line ‘National Quiz Contest’ proposed to be organized in November, 2014. A monitoring system to ensure proper implementation of the programme has also been devised.