‘Census Week’ to be observed in schools

Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Census Operations in Odisha has called on district administrations and urban local bodies to organise a “Census Week” across schools ahead of the Census 2027 exercise. 

The initiative aims to build awareness and encourage active participation among citizens.

Schools to play key role in public awareness

Highlighting the importance of grassroots outreach, authorities have directed District Education Officers to conduct competitions, campaigns, and awareness activities in schools. Students are expected to act as information ambassadors, spreading awareness within their families and communities to ensure accurate data collection without duplication or omission.

Digital Self-Enumeration phase in progress

The self-enumeration phase began on April 1, marking a significant step towards India’s first digital Census. Residents can submit their details online until April 15 through the official platform, reducing reliance on physical surveys during the initial stage.

Governor leads by example

Director of Census Operations in Odisha, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, said the exercise was formally launched with the Governor becoming the first citizen in the state to complete self-enumeration, setting the tone for wider public participation.

Detailed questionnaire covers key aspects

The Census questionnaire includes 33 questions covering housing conditions, family composition, head of household, vehicles, land ownership, LPG usage, and caste-related data. The comprehensive format aims to capture a detailed socio-economic profile of households.

House Listing Operations from April 16

Following the digital phase, House Listing Operations will commence from April 16 and continue till May 15. During this period, trained enumerators and supervisors will visit households across all 30 districts to verify and collect data.

Coordinated effort across departments

The Census exercise is being conducted by the Directorate of Census Operations under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordination with the state’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department, ensuring a streamlined and comprehensive enumeration process.