Anantnag: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma on Monday chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Anantnag to assess the progress of the ongoing House Listing Operations (HLO) under Census-2027 and stressed the importance of accurate and error-free data collection.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Director General, Office of the Registrar General of India, Biswajit Das; Deputy Commissioner and Principal Census Officer Anantnag, Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat; Joint Director DCO J&K Arun Kumar; Assistant Director Vijay Kumar; Additional Deputy Commissioner and District Census Officer Vikas Ahlawat; besides other officers associated with the Census exercise.
Describing Census data as the foundation of future development and prosperity, Amit Sharma said the exercise serves as the basis for planning, resource allocation and socio-economic development across the country.
Reviewing the progress achieved so far, Sharma appreciated the preparedness of Anantnag district and emphasised that maintaining the highest standards of accuracy during data collection is essential. He directed enumerators and supervisors to ensure that every entry is recorded correctly and thoroughly verified, cautioning that even minor errors could adversely impact future policy planning.
The CPCO instructed Charge Officers to intensify monitoring, undertake regular field inspections and conduct random quality checks to ensure strict adherence to Census guidelines. He also stressed the need to verify household information and ensure complete coverage of migratory populations, forest areas and other special categories so that no household or individual is left out of the enumeration process.
Given Anantnag’s significance as a destination for migratory and seasonal populations, special emphasis was laid on ensuring their comprehensive coverage during the ongoing Census exercise.
During the meeting, Deputy Director General Biswajit Das held an interaction with enumerators, supervisors and charge officers to obtain first-hand feedback aimed at improving the forthcoming Population Enumeration phase scheduled for September 2026 and February 2027.
The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag assured full administrative support for the smooth conduct of Census operations and directed all concerned officers to closely monitor field activities to ensure timely completion of the exercise in accordance with prescribed guidelines.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Vikas Ahlawat briefed the meeting on the district’s preparedness and informed that all House Listing Blocks (HLBs) have been successfully created and demarcated on the CMMS portal, while field operations are progressing smoothly across the district. He also highlighted the training imparted to enumerators and supervisors, self-enumeration progress, awareness campaigns and monitoring mechanisms put in place to ensure comprehensive coverage and quality data collection.
Amit Sharma further directed field functionaries to track migration routes and collect details of all eligible tribal populations to ensure that no person is excluded from the Census process.
Highlighting the role of technology, he said the digital mode of data collection would improve efficiency and enhance the quality of information gathered during the exercise.
The meeting also reviewed training activities, awareness campaigns, supervision mechanisms and field-level monitoring arrangements aimed at ensuring comprehensive and error-free Census operations across the district.
Later, Amit Sharma briefed the media about the progress achieved under the ongoing House Listing Operations and appealed to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, particularly residents of Anantnag district, to cooperate fully with Census enumerators and provide accurate information.
He said reliable Census data forms the basis for informed governance, developmental planning and equitable distribution of resources.
