JAMMU, Apr 30 (KNS): In a bid to ensure no migrant is left out of the upcoming Census 2027, Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) Amit Sharma, IAS, on Thursday assured full coverage of the migrant community, even as he visited relief camps and reviewed preparedness with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner.
Sharma, who is also the Director of Census Operations for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, held a detailed interaction with officers of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department here to sensitise them about the enumeration exercise, with a special focus on the migrant and displaced population.
'No personal documents sought'
Addressing concerns of the migrant community, the CPCO categorically clarified that the Census would not seek any personal or financial documents, including Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details or any similar information. "The exercise aims at complete enumeration of every individual and household without any exclusion," he asserted, emphasising that privacy of respondents would be ensured.
Sharma said the Census 2027 would be conducted through a transparent, secure, and citizen-friendly digital framework, where households would have the option of self-enumeration through an online portal. He urged migrant families to participate actively and provide accurate information without any fear or apprehension.
Two-phase census from June 2026
Giving an overview of the process, Sharma said the 16th Census of India — the 8th after Independence — would be held under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, ensuring strict confidentiality of data.
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The Census will be conducted in two phases. The House Listing Operations and Housing Census are scheduled from June 1 to June 30, 2026, with a self-enumeration window from May 17 to May 31, 2026. This will be followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. Snow-bound areas will be covered earlier in September 2026 as per notified timelines.
The official highlighted that the Census would utilise mobile applications, geo-referenced mapping and a robust Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) for real-time tracking and supervision of field activities.
On-ground visit to camps
Later, Sharma along with Relief Commissioner Arvind Karjwani visited several migrant camps, including the Purkhoo Camp, to spread awareness about the Census among migrant families in a simplified manner. He also visited the facilities and took note of important issues being faced by the community.
The CPCO further deliberated on migration-related details that would be captured during the Population Enumeration phase, stating that these insights would be valuable for policy formulation and targeted welfare measures.
Officers of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department assured full cooperation in facilitating outreach and awareness to ensure effective participation of the migrant population in Census 2027. (KNS)