Director of Census Operations, Nagaland, Dr Kenei Miachieo along with other officials during the review meeting held in Meluri on July 8. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, July 9 (MExN): Census authorities and district administrations across Nagaland reviewed the ongoing House Listing Operations (HLO) for Census 2027, stressing accurate enumeration, adherence to guidelines and public cooperation to ensure credible data collection.
Director of Census Operations, Nagaland, Dr Kenei Miachieo, visited Meluri on July 8 and reviewed the ongoing house listing exercise at a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Phuleshe K Yepthomi, charge officers and liaison officers associated with the census.
Miachieo said quality data collected during the first phase of the census would form the foundation for subsequent stages and cautioned that inaccurate or false enumeration could create complications later in the exercise. He urged charge officers to carry out the exercise with sincerity, diligence and accountability while ensuring every household is properly enumerated.
In Dimapur, a meeting on the ongoing census exercise for East Dimapur Town was held at the Deputy Commissioner's office on July 9 under the chairmanship of Extra Assistant Commissioner and Town Census Officer Imliwabang Aier.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Diana Patton urged councillors and Gaon Buras to extend full support to enumerators during the house listing exercise, stressing that accurate census data was essential for effective planning and administration.
Aier thanked the councillors and Gaon Buras for their cooperation and appealed to them to create awareness among residents about the importance of the census and encourage them to provide accurate information to enumerators. The meeting was attended by councillors of the East Dimapur Town Council and Gaon Buras of all wards.
An awareness campaign on the ongoing House Listing Operations with Urban Local Bodies was also organised at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Hall in Chümoukedima on July 8.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Lemlila Sangtam welcomed participants, while Charge Officer and Extra Assistant Commissioner Er Khriengunuo Theunuo and liaison officers highlighted the significance of the census and the role of field personnel in ensuring reliable data collection.
Participants were informed that the first phase of the Census, comprising house listing operations, is being conducted from July 1 to 30, while the second phase is scheduled for February 2027. Urban Local Body members were urged to spread awareness and extend full cooperation to census officials.
In Niuland, the district administration and the Census Department jointly organised a consultative and awareness meeting on Census 2027 at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Hall on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner T L Kiusumong Tikhir said the ongoing House Listing Operations were being carried out using sketch maps of every ward and colony prepared by the Census Department in consultation with village leaders. He urged community leaders to cooperate with census officials for the successful completion of the exercise.
Clarifying misconceptions, the deputy commissioner said the census was solely meant for population enumeration and had no connection with electoral rolls, delimitation, Aadhaar or PAN cards. He also explained that, under census rules, persons residing in a place for more than six months should be enumerated at their place of present residence rather than their native village.
Deputy Director of Census Vikishe Chishi outlined the roles of enumerators and supervisors and called on public leaders to coordinate with officials to ensure accurate data collection. Representatives of the Niuland Town Council, village and ward Gaon Buras, the Niuland Town Students' Union, Niuland Town Sümi Totimi Loka, Niuland Citizens Forum and Niuland Town Public Organisation attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, a weekly census review meeting was held at the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chiephobozou, on July 8.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Vekusheyi Rhakho said the meeting was convened to review the progress of House Listing Operations, identify challenges, share best practices and ensure timely completion of the exercise.
He emphasised the need for completeness and accuracy of enumeration and directed supervisors to conduct regular field visits and random checks to guide enumerators and resolve operational issues. He also reminded officials to maintain confidentiality and strictly follow the Census Act, rules and operational guidelines.
Supervisors presented progress reports and highlighted challenges faced during the ongoing exercise. Officials from the Directorate of Census, Kohima, including Assistant Director (Technical) Chuyalo Kath and Senior Executive Dr Kekrietshunuo Kire, along with field trainers Alemsongla Jamir and Ruthla Sangtam, also interacted with supervisors and provided operational guidance. The meeting was attended by Chiephobozou Town Charge Officer Viketoulie Metha and Botsa Charge Officer Ane Khieya.
