The countdown to Census 2027 has begun with over 700 trained officials set to conduct a door-to-door survey in Delhi as part of the first phase of the census exercise. The house-listing and housing census (HLO) will take place over the next 30 days, concluding on May 15. Officials explained that areas under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) have been divided into 560 house-listing blocks, each covering around 180 households. The exercise is aimed at gathering essential data related to housing conditions, household details, and available amenities.
The exercise is scheduled to start on Thursday in eight states and Union Territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, and others. It follows a 15-day self-enumeration period in these areas, where approximately 12 lakh people participated. However, participation in Delhi's NDMC and DCB areas has been relatively low, with only around 5,000 individuals completing the process so far. To ensure smooth operation, enumerators will utilize a dedicated mobile application to collect data digitally, which will enhance accuracy and speed up processing.
As the field visits begin, enumerators are expected to approach residents with caution. Given the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of election rolls in Delhi, there is concern that some residents might confuse these visits with the SIR process. To address this, officials have emphasized that enumerators will take the time to explain the purpose of the survey and reassure the public. Residents who have already completed the self-enumeration process will be asked to share their self-enumeration ID during the house visit to complete the process.
The self-enumeration facility will also continue in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas from May 1. Meanwhile, for areas with a large working population, enumerators will visit households after 6 pm to accommodate residents' schedules, ensuring that the data collection process is as efficient and inclusive as possible.
