Delayed census 2021: Census is the process of collecting, assembling, analyzing, evaluating and the disposal of the information collected through it for the betterment of the masses.
It is the most credible source of information that primary gives us the real picture about the population living it’s characteristics, economic activities, education and literacy levels, household and housing services, the mortality rate ,the birth and death rate and about the population of the scheduled caste and the scheduled tribes, the language, migration and many other details about the country where the census has taken place.
Table of Contents
Census provides information regarding the changing trends in the population characteristics. To do something for the population the first thing we need to do is to know the population. If we are not aware about the problems and how people are dealing with them then how can we find a solution to that problem so that’s why it is a very important tool in this direction. We won’t be able to make appropriate policies and programs until we know the needs of the people.
Census takes place in various countries like India, USA ,Australia, UK etc. And in most of the countries the decennial census takes place which means that the census takes place after every 10 years but Australia is an exception to it as the census in Australia takes place after every 5 years.
Why Census 2021 Delayed
Due to Corona it was difficult to conduct census in major countries and India is one of them. The last census which took place in India was in the year 2011 and the next census was to take place in the year 2021 but as we know that the world was suffering from Corona in that year so it was not possible to conduct a Census at that time and therefore it was delayed.
But various countries have conducted the senses after the situation has normalized but India has not been able to do so to which it gives the explanation that India is a very large country with a huge population so it needs time and labor to make it happen. As the census which takes place in India is the largest one in the case of the administrative exercises done around the world.
This delayed census has some negative impacts on the population which need to be addressed rather than just getting neglected.
But we need to understand how the census came into our lives and what is its importance. For that we need to understand the history of census in India so let’s understand that.
India has been conducting senses since its independence in 1947 but the actual senses took place in the year 1951 and from that year we have been conducting regular senses till the year 2011. But the story of senses is much older than that to understand that we need to get going a little back in the Colonial Times.
In the ancient times there is a mention of some kind of population count in the Rig Veda. In the ArthaShastra of Kautilya there is mention of the collection of population statistics for the policy of state taxation.
During colonial time the first attempt for a census was done around 1800 when the census took place in England. And therefore a census was conducted in Allahabad and Banaras by James Prince. Then the complete census of a particular City was conducted in 1930 and that city was Dacca by Henry Walter.
The foremost attempt to conduct a non synchronized census took place in the year 1872 by Lord Mayo. And after that the first synchronous tenses took place in the year 1881 by WC Plowden(census commissioner of India). And after that India has always tried to have a consistent census in our country.
Now let’s talk about how the census takes place in our country India and the process which is involved in this activity.
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Process of census
Census takes place in India in two phases:
- House listing and Housing census
- Population enumeration
The housing census is basically focused on the counting of the buildings, houses and households in the country and it takes a time period of 6 to 8 months to complete it and after that the population enumeration process takes place. In this process each person is enumerated and asked about his or her details like age, marital status, mother tongue, religion, sex etc.
Now, talking about the status of the census in regard to our constitution, we should be aware that the census has been included in the constitution of our country and the census of India act 1948 provides the framework about how the census needs to take place in our country. And the nodal ministry which is responsible for census in India is the Home ministry and the census conducted by the office of the registrar general and census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Importance of census
Most importantly, the Census gives us a picture about our population and about their various features and these features are like the birth and death rate, sex ratio , literacy levels, SC and ST population and many other things.
Policy making
Basically the census gives us Information about various factors like about childbirth women’s condition literacy levels and through this information they try to frame policy by which the flaws which are in the society related to these matters can be rectified and such policy and programs are conducted that would help in the enhancement of the performance of these sections of the society which would ultimately help in the development of the whole country.
As through the census we get the grassroot information about our population and therefore it helps in framing policies which would help them and would reach to the downtrodden sections of the society.
Demarcation
The census helps us in the demarcation of constituencies which would help in the parliamentary state level and local level elections. And it also helps us in recognizing the scheduled tribes and scheduled caste related constituencies with wood further help in the reservation of the seats.
Decision making
By the data available through the census the government tries to make some decisions which are favorable for the population. It takes various administrative, financial and other decisions on the basis of the information which they get from that census. It helps in the governance, evaluation and the proper implementation of various policies and programs within the country.
Identification of changes in smaller groups of the society
Census provides very minuets information about a society about its people. It gives us the information about these small changes or the trends in the smaller groups of a country which are often overlooked and are not taken into consideration. That’s why senses is a very important measure which helps the government to understand the problems of the sections of the society and to produce better solutions for those problems.
Distribution of financial grants
The financial commission gives Grants to the states on the basis of the information developed through the census. Because of the census the financial commission is able to identify the needs of the poor States and therefore gives the grants accordingly.
All these are very major factors for any country in the world then need to be given AP notice and consideration rather than this getting neglected. And India has always been particular in the conduct of census in the country but due to Corona, India has not been able to conduct its 2021 census and therefore it is delaying day by day.
And this delay would surely have its negative impact on the country and its policies and programs and we cannot afford those faults and therefore there is a dire need of the conduction of census in our country.
So let’s see some of the impact this delayed census is causing.
Impact of delayed census
Delay in the policy making process
The trends in India are changing everyday as we are living in an era which is too fast. As the last census which took place was in the year 2011 and now we are living in 2024. In these 13 years India have changed on a large scale and therefore the policies which are most appropriate for this time need to be implemented according to the census and Its trends so if there would be a delayed census then it would definitely impact the policy making process of the government as we know that the policy which were made 13 years ago would not apply perfectly in this time.
Impact on statistical surveys
Various statistical surveys are negatively impacted and do not show the true picture because of the presence of the old census. And therefore the growth estimates are being overestimated and under represented with needs to be taken care of.
Impact on political representation
As we know that the census is also used to demarcate the constituencies which would ultimately help in the election process of the country so this would be the majors area which would be affected due to the delayed census as it helps us in the demarcation of the constituencies on the basis of the population of that area. It also helps in the reservation of seats for the SCs, STs and the OBCs. Although in the 2024th general elections the 2011 census would be used but it would be a bit unfair as a lot of things have changed in the past 13 years and that same applies to the political representation of the country.
Inappropriate migration data
The most important thing about the census is that it tells us about the migration Trends of a country. It tells us about where the person is working, where the person is at that point of time. It tells us about how and what conditions are the states which are most favorable for different jobs and working opportunities. And as we know that the Covid time has drastically changed the migration data and is very much required and is the need of the hour.
Misuse of government policies
As policies which were made according to the census 2011 they won’t be appropriate for the beneficiaries of the present time as the trend has changed drastically and therefore the benefits of the policies and programs would be misused in this process. Like the policies of PDS the national food security act 2013 has targeted the beneficiaries according to the earlier census and the ratio and the number of that census has changed with time therefore that would have a negative impact on the whole population and its people.
So all these factors need to be considered as a census is a very important measure to know about the population which I have mentioned above. So it should not be delayed.
