Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Legislators, NGOs in Nagaland briefed on Census

The ongoing process of 2011 census will be a milestone for Nagaland and the biggest data bank said director of census operations, government of India, Hekali Zhimomi while presenting a power point presentation in Kohima today.
The Director Census Operation gave a briefing on the census 2011 before the Joint Parliamentary Working Committee of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the representative of the Civil Society started their joint meeting on the crucial Naga political issue at the Zonal Council Hall today.
Giving a brief history and the importance of census in the history of the world, the country and Nagaland, Hekali pointed out that the state had rejected the 2001 census based on the September 30, 2009 resolutions as the census figure was highly inflated and so not acceptable to the state. She also talked on the importance of correct census and the National Population Register (NPR). Allaying any apprehensions among the people, she said census has nothing to do with the electoral roll.
During interactive session, legislators, representatives of Church and various organizations sought various clarifications on the ongoing census operation such as listing of houses of a multiple house owners and whether “kheti” huts would also be listed. The Church representatives reiterated their earlier commitment to assist in collecting correct 2011 census but at the same time reminded that Church doesn’t have much authority.
Chief minister, Neiphiu Rio intervening from time to time to clarify doubts during the session stressed on the need to have a correct and accurate census, so that government would not find difficulties during the perspective plans of various departments. He said there was a tendency of inflated listing in the last census and people went ahead with it without thinking of the consequences it could bring to the State planning.
He said it was not the time to continue to manipulate the census of population. “False listing of voters will not help in increasing the Assembly seats of any particular area,” he said reminding that multiple entries and any false information would be detected by the biometrics. He warned that defaulters would be deprived of their unique Identity Card facilities. Rio also maintained that Nagaland State was always treated as a special category state and would be taken care in a special manner irrespective of the census data.

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