SRINAGAR: Self-enumeration under Phase-II of Census 2027 will begin on Monday in snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir and across Ladakh, Director Census Operations for J&K and Ladakh Amit Sharma said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference in Leh, Sharma said the exercise will be conducted from August 17 to August 31 in designated snow-bound areas. In Jammu and Kashmir, 16 of the 20 districts have areas classified as snow-bound for the purpose of the census.
He said the self-enumeration process would cover the entire Ladakh Union Territory, while in Jammu and Kashmir it would be limited to residents of notified snow-bound areas.
Sharma said geo-fencing has been incorporated into the self-enumeration system, making it mandatory for residents to be physically present in their respective notified areas while submitting census information.
“If a resident of Gurez is presently in Srinagar or Jammu, he cannot submit details through the census portal from those locations. The application has geo-reference restrictions and requires the individual to be present in the notified area,” he said.
The Census Director said enumerators and supervisors will undertake physical household visits from September 1 to September 30 to collect population data in these areas.
He added that population enumeration in the rest of the country, including the plains of Jammu and Kashmir, will be conducted later in accordance with the national schedule in February 2027.
According to official figures, self-enumeration will be available to residents of 1,115 villages and three municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir falling under snow-bound non-synchronous areas.
The highest number of such villages and municipalities are in Doda district (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 municipalities identified under the snow-bound non-synchronous category are Uri, Gulmarg and Kishtwar. (KNO)
