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Population Enumeration:
The second and last phase of population enumeration was conducted during the period from 9th - 28th Feb 2001 (both days inclusive) with a revisional round from the last 5 March 2001 by engaging 4,497 Enumerators and 830 Supervisors including 413 reserve Enumerators and 122 Supervisors.
The enumeration of houseless population was carried out on the night of February 28, 2001. The household schedule contained altogether 24 questionnaires for about 40 data/information.
Before finalization of population total, the census of India 2001 had published 3 different provisional papers. The first two papers contain information/data based on the quick tabulated results communicated by the Principal Census Officers and Charge Officers by wireless, etc. However, the tables and statements given in paper 3 are based on Charge Abstracts.
The paper 1 highlighted the total population, density, sex ratio and literacy upto district level. The rural-urban distribution of population was published at paper 2 upto sub-divisional levels. Purely based on economic activities, the distribution of workers and non-workers was published in paper 3 upto sub-divisional levels. The relevant maps and charts were also incorporated in these publications as well. Although some variables occurred in the Provisional Population Totals however data presented in the Final Population Totals were treated as final and so published.
Utility of Census data and its significance: The general public has now become aware of the importance of census and its significance; Census is a process of collecting, compiling, demographic, economic and social data at a specific time, of all the persons in a country.
The Government, Non-Government Organizations, researchers and commercial enterprises use the data collected through the census for administration, planning and policy-making and various programmes. Census data is also used for demarcation of constituencies of Assembly and Parliamentary representation - commonly known as “Delimitation of Election Constituencies”.
Census data may be treated as so sensitive on one aspect. In this context, a controversy regarding population distribution and its rate of growth as abnormally high in 3 sub-divisions of Senapati district and one sub-division of Chandel district were raised, while the process of Delimitation was about to begin in Manipur.
Delimitation:
According to the Delimitation Act, 2002, No. 33 of 2002 and the Delimitation (Amendment) Act, 2003, No.3 of 2004, the readjustment of number of Parliamentary and Legislative Assembly seats are to be done on the basis of the Census figures as ascertained at the Census held in the year 2001.
As per population of 2001 Census, the district-wise allocation for the Legislative Assembly seats may suffer some changes (if new delimitation is done). Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul districts may gain one more Assembly seat each while Imphal West, lmphal East and Bishnupur districts may lose one seat each.
Responding to plea of the State Government, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India agreed to verify the abnormal areas where the growth rate of population was allegedly high in some hill districts and so low in some valley districts. In this connection the State Government had launched an independent survey under the banner of Household Demographic Survey in 19 Sub-divisions of 7 districts for recounting of population during 6-11th October, 2003 (Courtesy - Daily Local Newspapers).
After minute discussion and finding of the Household Demographic Survey report of 15 sub-divisions (3 sub-divisions of Senapati district were not counted for non-cooperation of the villagers while the report of Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district data was not yet received), the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India had published final population totals for whole country excluding Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul sub-divisions of Senapati district. However these three sub-divisions’ population was published as estimated for the sake of the data users.
Preparation of Quality Map:
Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur had published various publications since 1961 supported by the maps and charts. The base map of the state was first time prepared for the census 1961 based on Topo sheets. A slight modification in the district and sub-divisional boundaries was made in 2001 census. It was solely based on revenue maps, which was supplied by the Settlement Directorate, DC and SDO concerned. Series of meeting were also held with Revenue Department, Commissioner (Revenue), DCs, SDOs, Director-Settlement and the Census Director in this respect.
Out of the total 9 districts of the state for 2001 census, 4 Valley districts were surveyed but the hilly 5 districts are not yet surveyed except some portion of Churachandpur and Chandel districts. While adjusting the surveyed and unsurveyed boundaries, it is found very much difficult. It is also noticed that the Nongmaijing hill is geographically located within the Imphal East District but administratively/ jurisdictionally under the Senapati district.
Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East District is also located in the western border of the State with 224 km distances from the district headquarters. The Senapati and Chandel districts also jurisdictionally administered some of the villages lying geographically within the lmphal West and Thoubal districts. Plotting the Permanent Location Code Number (PLCN) of the unsurveyed hill districts was very difficult task under such situation. Somehow, the location of such hill villages was mostly defined loosely with the help of the revenue maps supplied by the SDOs concerned and topo-sheet.
Census and Map Products 2001:
Some of the Census products are listed as below:
- Data on Houses, Household Amenities and Assets upto District level (Book form),
- Primary Census Abstract-dealing with the population of SC and ST by sex, rural/urban and work participation (Book form),
- Report and Tables on Age (Book form and CD),
- Religion Data (Book form and CD),
- Workers Data (CD), and
- Population Total upto village/town level containing 0-6 age group, literacy, SC/ST. and workers (CD),
- Migration Data (CD and Book form),
- District Census Handbook for an the 9 districts (Book form).
- Population Potrait, and
- Town Directory, etc.
For the map products, the Administrative Atlas, Manipur, 2001, containing administrative divisions since 1891 to 2001, district and sub-divisional maps showing PLCN, roads, rivers, water body and amenities and some thematic state maps for 2001 Census had been published. This publication will be of immense utility to the data users.
The other important map products which to be published is Census Atlas, 2001 containing about 100 the matic maps based on physical features, geology, soils, rainfall and temperature, socio-economic activities, cultural aspects and any other census and non-census data/information. Beside these publications, Regional Divisions of Manipur comprising physical features in particular and district maps showing village boundaries and town maps showing upto EB levels are also prepared for publication. All the maps for 2001 Census are digitized with the GIS application and verified and certified by the Survey of India.
Census Village:
Census village means revenue village, which was supplied by the DC/SDO concerned. It was one of the major tasks to fix the number of villages for the 2001 census. There are 2391 villages of which 76 are uninhabited villages in 2001 Census and all these villages were given Permanent Location Code Number of 8 digits but there are 3 or 4 digits only in the map. There is no any other independent of census village.
Town:
There are 28 statutory towns including Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, and Small Town Committees. Beside the statutory towns, 5 Census Towns and 4 Outgrowths are also taken into account as towns for the 2001 census. The Imphal Urban Agglomeration comprising Imphal Municipal Council as core city, 4 outgrowths and 4 census towns is also framed as the purpose of Census of Manipur (India), 2001.
Organizational/Operational work by Census Directorate:
The main duties of the Census Directorates are highlighted as-
- Providing training to all the main functionaries,
- Supply and distribution of all the required materials,
- Collection of filled-in forms and schedules and timely submission of returns,
- Payment of honorarium, TA/DA, etc. and
- Publication of the compiled data information.
Appointment of Man-Functionary:
Under the Census Act, 1948 all the required main functionaries were appointed. Some of them are - all the Deputy Commissioners and Executive Officer, Imphal Municipal Council as Principal Census Officers, all the Additional Deputy Commissioners/Additional District Magistrate as District Census Officers, all the Sub-Divisional Officer and Revenue Officer, Imphal Municipal Council as Charge Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, Imphal Municipal Council as City Census Officer, Director of Economics and Statistics, Manipur as Nodal Officer, and all the District Statistical Officers as Addl District Census Officers.
One of the functionaries - Supervisors and Enumerators played a significant role during the operations. All of them are also appointed under th Census Act, 1948 by the DC/SDO concerned from among the College/School teachers, Anganwadi workers/helpers and revenue staffs.
Conclusion:
‘Respondent’ is one of the most important person to maintain the quality of Census Products. The respondent should give all the information/data, which was fill-in by the Enumerator/Supervisor in the Houselist and Household Schedules. If she/he reported the wrong information about her/his family, the quality of census products will be low. Besides, the Enumerator/Supervisor fill-in the schedules with omission or duplication, the quality of the census products again should be minimized.
How significant the role played by Respondent, Enumerator and Supervisor is, can be seen in the schedules as follows:
Name of the Respondent...................
Relationship to Head............
Dated signature or thumb impression of the Respondent..................
Dated signature of the Enumerator................
Dated signature of the Supervisor ........................
So, it needs honesty, integrity and sincerity of all the functionaries during census enumeration for quality and reliable census data.
Concluded...
* MM Meitei wrote this article for The Sangai Express.
This is webcasted at e-pao.net on 10th July 2007.
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