Assam begins Census 2027 self-enumeration; flood-hit districts wait

GUWAHATI — Self-enumeration for Census 2027 began in Assam on Sunday, with the exception of two flood-hit districts where preparatory work has been suspended. The online facility allows residents to furnish their household details ahead of enumerator visits.

The suspended districts are Sivasagar and Charaideo, which were severely affected by the floods in July that killed 82 people across the state. Most of the casualties occurred in these two districts, which are still recovering from the deluge.

The self-enumeration portal, se.census.gov.in, will remain active until August 16. The house-listing operation and housing census are scheduled to start on August 17 across the state.

Biswajit Pegu, Director of Census Operations, said the initiative marks a step towards a more participatory census. "The self-enumeration, which began today, marks an important step towards making Census 2027 more participatory and citizen-centric," he told journalists. He urged residents of Assam to use the online facility and contribute to the census process.

Mr. Pegu said trained enumerators will later visit households to collect or confirm the details furnished online. He also highlighted the safeguards under the Census Act, 1948, which protects the confidentiality of citizens' information. "The information furnished by citizens is used solely for statistical purposes," he said.

Regarding the suspension, he said: "Due to the prevailing flood situation, training programmes and other preparatory activities related to the Census in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts have been suspended until further orders."

Narsing Pawar, Commissioner of Assam’s General Administration Department, assured that the state government would extend all necessary support for the smooth and successful conduct of Census 2027.

In a separate context, the state has earlier seen the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, where 3.3 crore people had applied for inclusion, but 19.06 lakh could not make it to the complete draft published in August 2019. Census officials have clarified that the census and NRC are separate exercises with different objectives.

Self-enumeration is a new feature introduced for Census 2027, aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy. The census, conducted every decade, provides crucial data for planning and policy-making at both state and national levels.