Shillong, February 11 (MExN): A State Level Conference on Census of India 2021 and updation of National Population Register (NPR) was held on February 10 at the Conference Hall of Meghalaya Secretariat, Shillong.
Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya addressed the Conference and stressed on the need to strengthen the grass-root level of functionaries to make the exercise a success. The Chief Minister also laid emphasis on Information Education Campaign to create awareness among the general public about the importance of this exercise, while adding, “Only when the public realises its importance, will a correct and accurate data be obtained.”
The Chief Minister also highlighted the need to dispel any misconceptions about the NPR exercise which is being done simultaneously along with the House listing Operations of Census.
Vivek Joshi, Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India addressed the Conference through Video Conferencing from New Delhi and stated that National Population Register was first conducted in 2010 and is being updated along with House listing Operations.
The RG & CCI also assured that Census data is used only for policy decision making of the Government and that data is released at the aggregate level only and no individual information will be disclosed.
MS Rao, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya informed that the state will give utmost importance to this exercise. He emphasized that a crucial aspect is to train the enumerators and supervisors who are the key functionaries. The Chief Secretary also informed that a comprehensive IEC will be launched to create mass awareness.
Dr Joram Beda, Director of Census Operations gave a detailed presentation about the various aspect of census highlighting that the Census of India is the largest administrative exercise in the world. Financial and technical assistance will be provided by the Central Government to the state for carrying out this operation. The Director dwelt at length on the various questions and concepts related to the census questionnaire.
Bharati Chanda, Dy Registrar General explained the roles of various census functionaries and the legal provisions under the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990 for the conduct of census. She pointed out that this will be the first digital census of the country where data will be collected on smart phones. She also remarked that census data is the foundation of democracy as delimitation of constituencies is done as per census data. She called for cooperation of all stakeholders in the census as no re-census can be done if there is any omission.
R Lyngdoh, State Nodal Officer for Census & NPR, Principal Census Officers (Deputy Commissioners) of all districts, Addl. Dy. Commissioners and other officers of the state government along with officers of the Directorate of Census Operations, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs attended the Conference.
S Lingasamy, Jt Director of Census Operations acknowledged all the participants and stakeholders the very best for the upcoming census.
