2020 – Posted in: RSTV – Tags: Bhore Committee, CAA, Census, NRC, population census

CENSUS: IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES

What is Census?

The population census is the whole process of collecting, analyzing or disseminating demographic, economic and social data linked to all people in a country or part well-defined country.
As such, the census provides a snapshot of the country’s population and housing at any given time.
The census provides information on the size, distribution and socioeconomic, demographic and other characteristics of the population in the country.
“Rig-Veda” reveals that a certain type of population count was maintained during 800- 600 BC in India.
Arthashastr from “Kautilya” written in the third century BC. C. prescribes the collection of demographic statistics as a measure of state tax policy.
A systematic and modern census of the population, in its current form, was carried out in a non-synchronous manner between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country.
However, the first synchronous census in India took place in 1881. Since then, censuses have been taken continuously once every ten years.
The last census in India was carried out in 2011, when the country’s population was Rs. 121 million. Along with this, the Indian census is one of the largest administrative exercises in the world.

Background of Census

India has a long history of census. Even the Rig Veda literature reveals that the enumeration of the population was carried out during these periods. Arthashastr de Chanakya also points out the importance of carrying out the census as a fiscal measure. In the Middle Ages, the Mughal emperor Akbar also had a kind of population count.

In the modern era, the census started with the British authorities carrying out the census of the city of Allahabad in 1824. After that, in 1827-1828, Benares also had a census. The first complete census of an Indian city was carried out by Dhaka (now in Bangladesh) by Henry Walter in 1830.

1941 saw the last census before independence. After India’s independence, the Bhore Committee recommended that the government appoint a central and provincial registrar of demographic and demographic statistics.

According to the recommendations of the Committee, the Census Act came into force in 1948. The 1951 census was conducted in accordance with this law.

The enumeration period for the 1951 census was February 9 to 28. Questions that are related to an individual’s name, age, religion, sex, relationship, economic status, primary and subsidiary livelihoods, mother tongue and literacy were asked.

The National Register of Citizens of India (NRC) was established after this census. The entire State of Jammu and Kashmir was omitted during this census and the data for this State were taken on the basis of previous figures.

This census revealed that the country’s population was 36,10,88,090. The male to female ratio
was 1: 0.946. Only 18% of the population could read and write and the average life expectancy was only 32 years.

Importance of Census

The census is one of the most reliable sources of information on the following:

Demography
Economic activity
Literacy and education
Housing and home services
Urbanization, fertility and mortality.
Listed breeds and tribes
Language
The census began for the first time under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872. It helped to develop new government policies and programs to improve areas for improvement in the community.

Highlights from the 2011 Indian Census

The 2011 Census of India was organized in two stages: trails, house list, house census and population count. The population of India increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011.

According to the 2011 Census of India demographic report, it is linked to 1.21 billion, an increase of more than 181 million over the past 10 years. Here we give the data and key data of the census of India.

The 15th Census of India and the 7th Census of Independent India-2011 began on April 1, 2010 with the President as the first citizen to be registered, followed by the Vice-President of India.

The motto of the 2011 census was "Our census, our future. C. Chandramouli was the 2011 Indian Census Commissioner.

The 2011 Census of India took place in two stages:

List of houses and housing census: (April to September 2010)
Population count (February 9 to 28, 2011)

The nation’s population according to preliminary figures from the 2011 census is 1,210.19 million, of which 623.7 million (51.54%) are men and 586.46 million (48.46%) are women. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, considered the population rather than the population of Brazil.

Challenges and Experiences

Cost of carrying out the census

One of the biggest challenges associated with carrying out the census in poor countries is the enormous financial cost of carrying out the exercise. It is no secret that it is extremely expensive to conduct a census.

The high illiteracy rate in a country has a negative impact on the conduct of the census, countries where a large part of their illiterate population faces a great challenge during the censuses.

Inadequate infrastructure in some areas

There are some places in the world where it is very difficult to carry out an effective population census due to poor infrastructure, such as poor roads, inaccessible roads or insufficient roads which link several cities and towns.

Traditional and religious beliefs can interfere with census exercise in many underdeveloped regions of the world where traditional beliefs are on the agenda, enumerators face serious challenges when they arrive at these places
and try to count people.

Corruption interferes with the census

Corruption during the census can make it difficult to conduct an effective population census that provides accurate population figures.

Insufficient census experts

Another problem linked to carrying out censuses in certain parts of the world is the insufficient number of professionals with the knowledge and experience necessary to carry out censuses.

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