13/02/2001: [news item] Tell truth to census takers: CM

Tell truth to census takers: CM

By A Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Now we will know how many married couples have a bedroom to themselves, whether they have western or Indian toilets and whether they use LPG or kerosene for cooking meals.

Census is not just about population. It is a lot more. Though the population enumeration is currently going on, in May last year “house-listing operations” were carried out.

And for the first time, in this operation, detailed questions on the standard of living were posed. Residents were asked whether they had a vehicle and telephone connection. Details on the availability of drainage, bathing and cooking facilities were taken. Also if a family had a bank account or not was asked.

Questions are there but whether the data that is collected is correct would largely depend on the residents of the city. And to make sure that the information was true, chief minister Sheila Dikshit sent out an appeal to all Delhiites on Monday.

Addressing a press conference Dikshit said it was vital that the citizens cooperated with the census enumerators and gave them the correct data. She reiterated that as per the law the information that was given to the census officials would not be permissible in the court of law and nobody could be prosecuted for it.

“The job of the enumerators is quite tough. And if a family is not visited by one of them by February 28, this should be brought to the notice of the government. Very soon, a helpline telephone number will be announced on which people can leave their names and addresses if they are not enumerated,” she said.

She said though government school teachers have been involved in the process of enumeration, this would not cause a problem for the students. “The teachers have been clearly instructed that the enumeration work has to be done in addition to their routine work,” she said.

Director of Census operations Bimla Jindgar said, “We conduct the census every ten years and only in the month of February. Besides, every time we take the help of school teachers.”

She said in order to enumerate homeless people living in Delhi, enumerators will go all over the city on the night of February 28. “Since these people move around in the day time, the only way we can get them without the chance of duplication is in the night,” Jindgar said.

Officials are already on the job identifying the areas where the homeless spent their nights. “We have spotted night shelters, railway platforms, footpaths, temples and other areas where most of these people sleep. Besides, there are some flyovers under which a lot of people spend their night. Our enumerators will go to all these places,” she said.

Since it could be a security risk women enumerators will probably not be put on this job. “In case we have to depute some women, we will make sure they are not alone and their supervisors accompany them,” she said