Theja Therieh
Census 2011, the country’s 15th census and the seventh after independence may be the last such gigantic exercise for population enumeration in India which has been a regular drill every 10 years since 1872. Census 2011 would be the Government’s vital data to target its various schemes and programmes besides providing key insights into the country’s demographic profile. If the government has its way, the country will move to a new era of having a “real time population data” post-2011 - making it possible to have ready to use accurate population data at a mere click of the mouse at any point of time and any place.
The shift will be possible as the government is planning to merge the preparation of the electronically-guided National Population Register (NPR) with the 2011 Census. The NPR will subsequently be linked to the system of registration of births and deaths in the country and the process will update the data using every addition and deletion of birth and death including socio-economic data – such as literacy and occupation figures - may also be updated in the NPR as per change in profile of individuals being recorded in the ongoing Multi-Purpose National Identity Card Scheme (MNIC) or Unique Identification card (UID Card) with photograph and finger biometrics.
Since the NPR will have specified characteristics of each individual along with the photograph and finger biometrics, the register will provide a more comprehensive and accurate data to demographers and experts. The idea to have new system in place of the traditional approach of population enumeration gained ground within the government in the wake of number of discrepancies reported in the 2001 Census. In this connection, the State of Nagaland had earlier rejected the 2001 census and that the assembly had passed a unanimous resolution objecting the data published by Census Commission of India due to irrational patterns of demographic shift. The Chakhesang Public Organization had filed PIL at Gauhati High Court objecting use of 2001 census for any constitutional exercises including Delimitation of constituencies on the basis of erroneous census report. The Gauhati High Court had taken legal notice that proceeding on the basis of such data would have constitutionally undesirable fall out on the electoral process. The Chakhesang Public Organisation had submitted several representations to the Government of India to do away with the discrepancies and conduct fresh census. The then Honourable Union Home Minister admitted to the shortcomings of the traditional method. He said, “The real test of quality of data comes when it is used for application in the real life situations. In the delimitation exercise which has been completed for most of the states in the country, doubts have been raised about the population data in 2001 census in certain states.”
Nagaland which has recorded highest growth rate in the country has put the whole nation to shame and disgrace since the population is far from reality and could not be use for any constitutional purposes. Owing to the absurdity of the census figure, the entire exercise of delimitation in the four North Eastern States including Jharkhand State were exempted from constitutional exercise which means, delimitation exercise will practically be possible only after 2026. If the same trend of exaggeration continues in census operations in the State, we will be deprived of national exercises and the whole Government structure and machineries may collapse due to want of reliable statistics. Not to talk about national exercises, the State is rendered handicapped to determine the status of the tribes and zones in absence of acceptable statistics, be it in education, health, literacy, economy and job representations in the Government services which are the basic components in the census. The State departments are literally handicap in making proposals and projections since there is no rational census data. The State planning is worst affected since the basic components to gauge and evaluate are missing. Today we have numerous census taken by almost all the State departments particularly Rural Development, Health & Family Welfare, Agri & Allied departments etc. due to lack of master census in the State. Nevertheless, all such independent census varies from one another. Nothing can replace rational and reliable census that can guide and provide yardstick for the programs and policies towards good governance and transparency.
As per the existing guidelines, enumeration of both Indian citizens and foreign nationals can be obtained and published by the census commission. The names of foreign nationals or illegal immigrants can be well identified in the National Population Register who will be screened in the Unique Identification process. This will help the State machineries to identify the infiltrators any time as per the law of the land.
In fact, the 2001 Census enumeration cost Rs 1,403 crore to the country’s exchequer. The expenditure will be higher in 2011 when the population of the country is expected to be around 1.20 billion. If the entire exercise fails to provide reliable materials, the efforts of draining the nation’s exchequer is meaningless and a total waste.
I personally don’t understand what benefit the people of any particular section or region in the long term through manipulation of census data. It is merely self defeating and misleading to the state and nation as it destroys the working mechanisms.
Now, the much talk about 2011 census has begun with pre-test for Census of India-2011 been conducted from 28th June to 17th August, 2009 in all the states and Union territories in the country. This is one last opportunity to produce accurate and reliable census for posterity. I urge the State Government to take necessary steps and gear up for the successful census operation in the State. What is urgently needed now is to nominate competent officer to the post of Director of Census Operations in Nagaland and subordinates. It is equally important to create public awareness and educate the citizens to justly participate in the fundamental exercise of the nation. I appeal to all conscious citizens of Nagaland to rise on this occasion and extend all possible help and co-operation to make census operation a success. This may be one such opportunity for the Churches in Nagaland to participate and create awareness for this gigantic task of census operations in Nagaland.
Let us participate in the census operations religiously and sincerely. Correct census can be an important tool to check corruptions, favoritisms, manipulations and criminal activities at all levels. Statistics is the basic structure to facilitate free, fair, accountable and good governance. “Enumerate once is a duty for every citizen, multiple enumeration is a crime”
