Bandipora: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma, on Sunday reviewed the implementation of Census 2027 operations in Bandipora district and emphasized the need for accurate, transparent and professional data collection.
The review meeting was held at the Mini Secretariat, Bandipora, and was attended by Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and Principal Census Officer, Indu Kanwal Chib, along with senior Census officials, district officers, supervisors, trainers and enumerators associated with the exercise.
Officials briefed the meeting on the progress of House Listing Operations (HLO) Phase-I and the arrangements put in place for smooth conduct of the ongoing Census activities.
Addressing the meeting, Amit Sharma described Census 2027 as an exercise of immense national importance, stating that future policy formulation, development planning and demographic assessments would be based on the data generated through the Census. He said the exercise would contribute significantly towards achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.
He stressed that accurate and authentic data collection is essential, warning that even minor inaccuracies could adversely affect governance and planning for years. He directed officials to conduct population enumeration with the highest standards of professionalism, dedication and transparency, adding that negligence would invite accountability under Government of India guidelines.
Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib assured full administrative support for the Census exercise and said regular monitoring and inspections are being conducted to ensure reliable data collection. She also emphasized the use of technology and public awareness campaigns to address misconceptions regarding the Census.
The CPCO directed Census teams to create widespread public awareness and properly identify themselves while interacting with residents. He also cautioned people against cyber frauds and misinformation campaigns, clarifying that Census enumerators would only seek responses to the notified 33 Census questions and would not collect Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, bank account information, ATM card details or other financial information.
Sharma informed that citizens can seek assistance regarding Census operations through the official helpline number 1855 and stressed the need for proper identification of Census personnel to help the public distinguish genuine officials from fraudsters.
The meeting also discussed enumeration of migratory populations, coordination among field staff and measures to ensure complete coverage of all sections of society while maintaining confidentiality of Census data.
Appreciating the progress achieved since the commencement of door-to-door enumeration on June 1, Sharma commended the efforts of the District Administration Bandipora, Master Trainers, Supervisors and Enumerators involved in the exercise.
