New Delhi: Over 25 lakh officials will knock
at the doors of each citizen in the country soon as they
undertake the biggest census ever in history, covering India`s
1.2 billion population that began today with President
Pratibha Patil being the first to be counted.
"My name is Pratibha Devisingh Patil and my permanent
address is Amravati, Maharashtra," Patil said when asked by
Promila Mishra, a teacher with NDMC school, Gole Market here
before signing off the Census which would cover all 640
districts, 5,767 tehsils, 7,742 towns and more than 6
lakh villages in the country.
The 15th National Census exercise, which was first
conducted in 1872, will capture the socio-economic-cultural
profile of its citizens besides seeking information for the
creation of the National Population Register.
During the mammoth exercise, the enumerators, most of
whom would be teachers and local officials besides retired
employees, will for the first time collect information like
ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, availability
of treated drinking water facilities and electricity among
others.
"My appeal to all brothers and sisters of the country is
to wholeheartedly take part in the preparation of the first
ever National Population Register. It is important for the
nation as well as you," Patil said after a delegation of the
Census officials took down her information.
The delegation headed by Union Home Minister P
Chidambaram included Registrar General and Census Commissioner
C Chandramouli and Deputy Director General, National
Population Register, S K Chakrabarti besides Union Home
Secretary G K Pillai.
Chidambaram said it is the first time in history that 1.2
billion people will be provided I-cards after being
identified, counted and enumerated.
"This exercise must succeed and will succeed. We will
leave no stone unturned to visit every village, every
habitation in the country," he said appealing to the civil
society, teachers, parents and authorities to take part in
this exercise.
The Census operation would cost around Rs 2,209 crore
while the approved cost for creation of NPR is Rs 3,539.24
crore.
For the NPR, the enumerators will also seek additional
information on a separate sheet.
-PTI
