The recently proposed delay by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the 2021 Census and other related field activities in India due to the Covid-19 pandemic has brought this important national exercise back into public focus. Having been conducted every decade since its inception in 1881, the census forms an integral part of India’s nation-wide planning and development strategies. This year’s census promises to be a significant event with changes such as digital data collection and a provision for self-enumeration.
Historical Background of Census in India
The concept of population enumeration dates back to 800-600 BC during the era of the Rig Veda. A more structured approach was noticeable during Mughal king Akbar’s reign, where the administrative report ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ encompassed extensive data on population, industry, wealth, and more. The first official census, however, took place in 1872 during Governor-General Lord Mayo’s tenure, although it was non-synchronously conducted in different parts. Since then, the census has evolved into a trusted, reliability-filled exercise that occurs every ten years, with the Census Act of 1948 further refining the structure, duties, and responsibilities of this large-scale operation.
About the Census of India
The term ‘census’ originates from the Latin term ‘censere’, which translates to ‘assess’. It provides a predetermined framework to collect and analyze demographic and socio-economic parameters like education, SC/ST (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe), religion, language, marriage, fertility, disability, occupation, and migration. The 2021 Census is set to be the first digital census in India’s history.
2021 Census vs Previous Editions: Key Changes
The upcoming census will uniquely leverage digital technology. Data collection will occur via mobile applications, reducing delays, and enabling almost instantaneous results, a stark contrast to the previous version’s years-long wait for data analysis and report publishing. A user-friendly monitoring and management portal has also been developed, providing a single source for all officers/officials involved in Census activities and offering multilingual support. There will be no collection of caste data in this census, and for the first time, information about transgender-headed households will be included.
Why is the Census Important?
The census stands as a comprehensive source of data, contributing to surveys relating to health, education, agriculture, etc. It holds significance for evidence-based decision making, policy-making, and scientific planning, leading to resource optimization. The census data also plays a crucial role in defining constituencies, allocating representation to Parliament, State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies, and determining state grants by the Finance Commission.
Challenges of Conducting Census
Some challenges in conducting the census include minimizing statistical errors, countering the provision of false information due to fear or ignorance, addressing the huge expenditure incurred, ensuring data security particularly with the shift towards digital mode, preventing potential data abuse, and managing community participation and enumerator training.
Way Forward for Census Planning
The way forward involves strengthening data quality by minimizing coverage error and content error. Enumerators and organizers need to be adequately trained, and their morale needs to be boosted through proper remuneration. Public campaigns should be launched to educate the masses about the importance of the census in their lives, achieving accurate data collection and thorough national profiling.