Himachal set for Census-2011

For the first time,information will be collected on the latest socially relevant indicators like mobile phone,Internet connection and computer usage. The Census will also introduce a new identification process by collecting biometrics of people and open up the compilation for public scrutiny to invite any objection.

“In view of the government’s new proposal to issue unique identification numbers in future to all residents of the country,the Census will also record human biometrics,including iris mapping,fingerprint and photograph,” Dr C Chandramouli,Registrar General and Commissioner,Census Operation of India,told the media here.

Earlier,he held a meeting with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal during which he also spoke to the deputy commissioners of all 12 districts through a videoconference to check the preparedness. The CM said 15,429 enumerators would be deployed for the Census operation in the state.

Seeking people’s cooperation,Chandramouli said the first phase of Census would be of counting the number of households,amenities and assets,while the second round would count heads and categorise their details of identity under 15 fields. “In the second round,first the heads would be counted and later the enumerators would go back to the field to collect the biometrics. The residents need to cooperate throughout,” he said.

The biometrics collected as part of the operation will be part of the first-ever National Population Register to come up after the Census.

“This will not be a certification of someone’s citizenship. It will just be an authentication that a particular person with given biometrics exists in the country. The entry in this register will only be made after the data undergoes de-duplication process under the Unique Identification Authority’s programme and goes back for public scrutiny,” said Chandramouli.

The biometrics of people above 15 years will be collected,but only those above 18 years will be issued UIDs. The rest will be known by the UID numbers of their parents.