Census 2027: The pressures of counting India
Enumerators working on the Census are facing several challenges in the field, including heat, connectivity issues, and safety concerns. Though the exercise is being conducted through a digital system designed for real-time monitoring, field workers say conditions on the ground and supervisory instructions are affecting data collection. Vijaita Singh reports on the challenges
Census 2027, India's population count, is being conducted for the first time through a fully digital system, with enumerators collecting data from about 33 lakh government teachers and other enumerators over a span of nearly a year. The exercise, which is six years late due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marks several firsts, including the collection of caste data and the option for residents to self-enumerate.
The first phase, known as Houselisting and Housing Operations (HLO), focuses on assessing housing conditions, household composition, basic amenities, and assets. Enumerators face numerous challenges in the field, including extreme heat, connectivity issues, and safety concerns. For instance, M. Soumina, a government-school teacher, spent her mornings knocking on apartment doors in the Mayur Vihar area of New Delhi to survey 150 flats.
The enumerator had to work through brutally hot summer temperatures of 40°C to 42°C and sometimes stayed out late to complete her visits. The experience is not unique to Soumina, as many female enumerators, often government school teachers, also requested their male companions to accompany them during field visits to ensure their safety.
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