Census data is bedrock for decade social analysis and provides valuable benchmark information for planning and formulation of various programmes and policies. This was stated by Chief Secretary Anil Khachi while addressing the one day State Level Conference/training of Divisional Census Officers (DCO) and Principal Census Officers (PCO) of Himachal Pradesh on Census of India 2021 organised by Directorate of Census Operations Himachal Pradesh, here today.During the training the Divisional Census Officers and Principal Census Officers were imparted training on instruction manual for Houselisting & Housing Census and manual for National Population Register. The Chief Secretary said that the objective of the training programme was to provide adequate exposure of the census exercise to the Divisional Census Officers and Principal Census Officers. He directed the DCO and PCO to complete the census operation in a befitting manner within stipulated time frame. He directed the authorities to carry out the exercise with dedication and fidelity. He asked to notify a nodal officer for Census 2020-21 at district level for coordination of all Census related activities in the district. He also asked to appoint a Field Trainer at District level for all districts and their registration for technical assistance for operating Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), at the earliest. The appointment of enumerators and supervisors must also be adhered to, he added. Shri Khachi asked the officers to familiarise themselves well with this exercise and to make most of the training programme. He said that it was important for the officers to engage with public representatives and involve them in obtaining consensus of people for smooth functioning of census procedure.
Director Census Operation, Dr. Sushil Kapta, gave a detailed presentation on background, importance and legal provisions of Census of India. Dr. Kapta said that Census is the basis for all democratic process in the country. He informed that during Census 2021, all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh including 73 Sub-Divisions, 172 Tehsils and Sub Tehsils and 20852 villages would be covered. He said that 14,946 enumerators and 2532 Supervises would be involved Census 2021 in the state. He said that the exercise would take place in phased manner. In phase one, the houselisting and housing census operations and updation of National Population Register would take place on 16th May, 2020 upto 30th June , 2020 and in phase two, the population enumeration in general areas would take place from 9th to 28th February, 2021. He said that the revisional round would take place from 1st March to 5th March, 2021 and in phase two the population enumeration in snow bound areas would take place from 11th to 30th September 2020 and revisional round would begin from 1st October to 5th October 2020.Deputy Director Census Operation, Dr. Rajender Prasad gave detailed information on houselisting and housing census schedules and its processes.The Secretary, General Administrative Department (GAD) has been appointed as State Nodal Officer and Deputy Commissioners of all districts including Commissioners of Municipal Corporation, Shimla and Dharamshala have been appointed as Principal Census Officers for both rural and urban areas for success of this exercise.Secretary GAD Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.