Associated News Bureau

CPCO Reviews Census Operations in Budgam, Calls for Accurate and Comprehensive Enumeration

Budgam, June 5: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma, on Thursday reviewed the progress and preparedness of the ongoing House Listing Operations (HLO) in Budgam district as part of the Census exercise. The review meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex in Budgam and was co-chaired by Deputy Commissioner Budgam and Principal Census Officer Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan. At the outset, Additional Deputy Commissioner and District Census Officer Budgam, Mehraj-Ud-Din Shah, presented an overview of the district’s geographical profile, preparedness for Census 2027, and arrangements made for the smooth conduct of House Listing Operations being carried out from June 1 to June 30, 2026. He also briefed the meeting on the training programmes conducted for census personnel and the district administration’s overall readiness for the national exercise. The Deputy Commissioner informed the meeting that all necessary administrative and logistical measures have been put in place to facilitate seamless implementation of census-related activities across the district. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among all stakeholders and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring complete coverage and high-quality data collection during the enumeration process. Detailed discussions were held on strengthening field-level operations, ensuring coverage of all households, including migratory populations, and maintaining the accuracy and integrity of data collection. Addressing the officers, Amit Sharma appreciated the efforts of field staff and urged enumerators and supervisors to carry out their responsibilities with dedication and professionalism. He emphasized effective coordination among census functionaries, timely data collection, and strict adherence to prescribed guidelines to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the exercise. Sharma directed all concerned officers to provide full support to census personnel and take necessary steps to facilitate the smooth conduct of House Listing and Housing Census activities across the district. He informed that residents can contact the dedicated toll-free helpline number 1855 for any query or clarification related to Census 2027. He also cautioned the public against fraudulent calls, messages, or individuals falsely claiming association with the Census exercise and advised citizens not to share personal, financial, banking, or OTP-related information with anyone. Clarifying the enumeration process, Sharma said the Census exercise is transparent and straightforward, requiring citizens to respond only to the prescribed 33 Census questions. He appealed to the public to cooperate with authorized census personnel and provide accurate information to ensure the successful completion of the exercise. The meeting also reviewed field-level preparedness and various operational aspects of the Census programme. Reiterating the significance of the exercise, Sharma described the Census as a critical national initiative that serves as the foundation for evidence-based planning and development. Joint Chief Principal Census Officer Arun Kumar briefed participants on the monitoring framework for field operations and highlighted the importance of real-time tracking and supervision of data collection activities. The meeting was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and District Census Officer, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Charge Officers, Assistant Chief Principal Census Officer, District Coordinator for Census 2027 Budgam, and other concerned officers and officials.