CHANDIGARH: To achieve accurate results of Census 2021, a State Level Conference of Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Punjab and Chandigarh UT was held on Friday at Punjab Bhawan here. Presiding over the conference, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government-cum-Nodal Officer Mr. Sanjay Kumar emphasized on Information Education Campaign to create awareness among the general public about the importance of this exercise, besides stressing on the proper activation, sensitization and training of all tiers of the government functionaries involved in the exercise
Director Census of Punjab and Chandigarh UT Dr. Abhishek Jain, while giving a detailed presentation on various issues pertaining to Census 2021, said that the first phase of 45 days of Census 2021 will be carried out from May 15 to June 29, 2020 in the state of Punjab and from April 15 to May 30, 2020 in Chandigarh. Dr. Jain laid special focus on the role and responsibilities of Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners being the Principal Census Officers (PCOs) within their respective jurisdiction, besides detailing on the methodology being followed. Emphasizing on the successful completion of every activity in stipulated time frame, the status position of field activities was also reviewed. The functioning of Mobile app and CMMS portal was explained by the officials of the Punjab and UT Chandigarh Census Directorates.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India Dr. Vivek Joshi highlighted that the data will be collected through Mobile App and option to collect data on paper format has also been kept, in case the enumerator is unable to work on mobile app. He said that the amount being paid to field functionaries is very impressive this time. All those enumerators, who will collect data on digital format, will be paid enhanced honorarium. The effort is to ensure the maximum data collection is done through mobile app for easy and quick processing of the data collected, he added.
Sanjay Kumar said that Census data has a great utility for planning at grass-root level and no administrative, economic or social work can be undertaken without referring to it. He said that there is no other source which provides information at par with the census data, and that too, at the lowest level administrative unit of village in case of rural areas and town/ward in urban areas. Appreciating the transformation from ‘paper’ to ‘digital mode’, he said that apart from reducing the paper work; this will also enable release of data more quickly.
Mritunjay Kumar, Joint Director apprised that in Punjab, five Divisions comprise 22 Districts, 91 Tehsils, 170 towns with statutory status, 95 Census towns (non- statutory) and 12, 477 villages. Among the statutory towns, 13 have the status of Municipal Corporation. Nearly 67, 555 Enumerators and Supervisors shall visit to collect data of projected population of a little over 3 crore of around 60 lakh households in the State.