Srinagar, Apr 1: As the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir government prepare for Census 2010-11, the exercise has received support from unexpected quarters. The pro-freedom groups in Kashmir have asked people to participate en-mass in the census.
The 2001 census data had become controversial after it was alleged by some quarters in the Kashmir valley that the population figures were ‘manipulated’. The Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik has asked people not to shy away from the exercise and get enrolled.
“Census has nothing to do with politics. We want truth about the real population figures to come to fore,” Malik said. “Last time we had called for boycott of the census exercise, which was not a wise decision.” The Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is yet to speak on the issue. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Mirwaiz said the party would discuss the issue before announcing its stand. “The decision will be announced next week only after the Mirwaiz whose mother-in-law passed Wednesday, will join back after mourning,” sources close to Mirwaiz said.
The Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani however suspected a “conspiracy” in the exercise.
“Government is planning to engage outside employees to manipulate the census in Jammu and Kashmir. People’s participation is not going to matter as India has always manipulated population figures in Jammu and Kashmir,” Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar told Greater Kashmir.
However, Muslim League viewed census as an “important” exercise vis-a-vis solution to the Kashmir issue. “Most of the roadmaps presented in the past for Kashmir solution were based on the census 1981. However the situation has changed now and we should participate in the upcoming census,” said League chairman, Shakeel Bakshi.
The census in Jammu and Kashmir would begin by the middle of May this year. It would be conducted in two phases for which around 60,000 state government employees from different departments including Education, Social Welfare and Local Bodies would be engaged.
During phase-I, which would start from May 15 and last till June 30, the Listing Operation would be conducted. It would involve listing of all types of houses - Pucca or Katcha, availability of social facilities like schooling, health care etc to each household.
The second phase of the Census - General Census or Population enumeration--would start in February next year when the process would be conducted throughout India.
“It is the important stage which involves the listing of members of each household to compile latest population figures besides male: female ratio etc,” the official said.
Last time the exercise was held in 2000-01. It had recorded the population of the state at 1.01 crore with over all sex ratio of 892. The census had reportedly shown the population of males 53,60,926 while that of females 47,82,774.
GKNN adds from Jammu: The training process of the `Master Trainers’ for the census operation would commence in all the 22 districts of the state from April 4.
Officials in Directorate of Census Operation Jammu and Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that the training of the staff for Census will commence on April 5.
Jammu and Kashmir has 22 districts, 6650 villages and 82 tehsils beside 85 statutory towns and 35 census towns, where the census operation has to be carried out.
“At the fist instance expert teams from Directorate of Census Operation, Government of India assisted by a nationally reputed NGO will train the master trainers, who have been selected by the local administration, at the District level”, Director Census Operations Farooq Ahmad said adding, the master trainers will then be pressed into service to train supervisors and they will later jointly train the enumerators.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST