Census Phase II: after initial hitches,a smooth homeless count

On the last day of the second phase of the census drive,the homeless count was carried out late into the night. While the rural parts of the district conducted the drive on February 27,the city counterparts carried the drive on February 28.

A department officer from the district collectorate said,There were no main problems.” Deputy commissioner,city census,Pravin Ashtiker said they started the drive at 8 pm and went on till 2.30 am. “Some of the homeless thought that we have come to evacuate them. We explained them that this was a drive. Though there was some initial hesitation to provide information,later they conceded,” said Ashtiker. In the city,the main areas were Congress Bhavan,Mandai and Pune railway station. The previous drive–National Housing Census and National Population Register Drive in Pune district had commenced on May 1. This is the seventh population census to be undertaken. Pune district is expected to record a 25 per cent rise in population since the last census. In the last census,Pune district had recorded a population of 72.67 lakh. The projected population for the district now is 91.42 lakh.

The government is planning for a repository of information that will also help them issue a Unique Identification Number to every individual.