Jammu, Jan 7: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on Friday highlighted the importance of census in the balanced and comprehensive development of the state.
 “Availability of data on various fronts and population status facilitates planners to formulate perspective and befitting plans for holistic progress,” Omar told the officials of the Census Department here.
 Omar assured every assistance and logistic support to them for successful conduct of census in the state.
 The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the completion of first phase of census successfully and asked the Census Department to accomplish the assigned job in the second phase as per the fixed timeline.
 “In a state like JK where there is diverse topography, hilly terrains, inaccessible and remote snowbound areas, you have to formulate your calendar of operation meaningfully and in a befitting manner,” he added.
 The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Dr C Chandramouli along with his team called on the Chief Minister here on Friday and briefed him about the census operation.
 The Census Commissioner apprised the Chief Minister of the status of first phase of census that had been completed in the state. The second phase of Census is scheduled to begin from March 9, 2011, he said.
 The Census Commissioner said that population census is the total process of collecting, compiling and analyzing the demographic, economic and social data at a specific time. It gives complete socio-economic and cultural profile of the country.
 Dr Chandramouli said that during the second phase national population registration would be completed and finally every citizen of India would be provided with a Smart Card possessing all vital details. He said the process for biometric information collection and photographs of the citizens would start from April next.
 He said that 30,000 employees of the state were being trained to conduct the second phase of the census in the state.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST