Srinagar: Population enumeration for Census 2027 in the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir will commence on September 1, with enumerators set to conduct door-to-door visits across identified villages and municipalities in 16 districts of the Union Territory.
The month-long exercise will continue till September 30 and forms part of the census operations in snow-bound non-synchronous areas, where enumeration is conducted ahead of the regular schedule due to harsh winter conditions.
Director Census Operations for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma, who is also the Chief Principal Census Officer, said the exercise will cover 1,115 villages and three municipalities across the Union Territory. He is scheduled to formally launch the enumeration drive from Dudu and Basantgarh sub-divisions in Udhampur district.
Official figures show that Doda district has the highest number of villages and municipalities identified under the snow-bound category at 305, followed by Kishtwar (158), Baramulla (93), Ramban (88), Udhampur (79), Kulgam (66), Anantnag (55), Kupwara (49), Reasi (49), Kathua (48), Pulwama (32), Shopian (32), Bandipora (28), Poonch (24), Ganderbal (7) and Budgam (5).
The three municipalities included in the exercise are Uri, Gulmarg and Kishtwar.
Officials said a self-enumeration facility for residents of these areas remained available from August 17 to August 31, ahead of the physical household survey.
The first phase of the Census exercise across Jammu and Kashmir was conducted in June this year.
