ANANTNAG, June 15: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma on Monday reviewed the ongoing House Listing Operations (HLO) under Census-2027 in Anantnag district, describing Census data as the “founding pillars” of future development and prosperity.
The review meeting, held at the Conference Hall in Anantnag, was attended by Deputy Director General, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General of India, Biswajit Das, Principal Census Officer and Deputy Commissioner 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 Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Charge Officers, supervisors and other officials associated with the Census exercise.
In his remarks, Amit Sharma emphasized that Census is the country’s largest administrative and statistical exercise and forms the basis for planning, resource allocation and socio-economic development for years to come. He termed Anantnag one of the oldest districts of Jammu and Kashmir, known for its rich heritage and renowned tourist destinations.
Reviewing the progress of the House Listing Operations, Sharma appreciated the preparedness of the district administration and underscored the importance of maintaining the highest standards of accuracy during data collection.
He directed enumerators and supervisors to ensure that every entry is correctly recorded and thoroughly verified, cautioning that even minor errors or conceptual misunderstandings could adversely affect the quality of Census data and future policy planning.
The CPCO instructed Charge Officers to intensify monitoring through regular field inspections and random quality checks while ensuring strict adherence to Census guidelines. He also stressed the verification of household information and comprehensive coverage of migratory populations, forest areas and other special categories to ensure that no household or individual is left out of the enumeration process.
Considering Anantnag’s unique demographic profile, special emphasis was laid on covering seasonal and migratory populations. Sharma further directed field functionaries to track migration routes and collect details of all eligible tribal populations to guarantee inclusive enumeration.
Deputy Director General Biswajit Das interacted directly with enumerators, supervisors and Charge Officers to obtain first-hand feedback that would help improve the upcoming technology-based Population Enumeration (PE) phase scheduled for September 2026 and February 2027.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat assured full administrative support for the smooth conduct of Census operations and instructed concerned officers to closely monitor field activities to ensure timely completion of the exercise in accordance with prescribed guidelines and timelines.
Additional Deputy Commissioner and District Census Officer Vikas Ahlawat briefed the meeting about the district’s preparedness, informing that all House Listing Blocks (HLBs) had been successfully created and demarcated on the CMMS portal and that field operations were progressing smoothly across the district.
He also highlighted the training imparted to enumerators and supervisors, progress in self-enumeration, awareness campaigns carried out through various IEC activities and monitoring mechanisms established to ensure quality data collection and complete household coverage.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in Census operations, Amit Sharma said that digital modes of data collection would enhance efficiency and improve the quality of information gathered.
The meeting also reviewed training activities, public awareness initiatives, supervision mechanisms and field-level monitoring arrangements aimed at ensuring comprehensive and error-free Census operations across Anantnag district.
Later, Amit Sharma briefed the media on the progress achieved under the ongoing House Listing Operations of Census-2027 and appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, particularly residents of Anantnag, to extend full cooperation to Census enumerators by providing accurate information.
He said reliable Census data forms the foundation of informed governance, effective developmental planning and equitable distribution of resources.(KNC)
