As Census begins, enumerators set out to map homes and households

School teachers deputed as census enumerators stepped out on Wednesday with building registers, maps, and identification cards as the Houselisting and Housing Census, the first phase of Census 2027, commenced across Kerala. 

On the Kariyavattom campus in Ward 4, enumerators began the socially and politically consequential nationwide enumeration process after a 16-year hiatus, a five-year delay attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and other administrative hiccups, identifying and numbering buildings as a precursor to a subsequent count of citizens. 

India’s political, economic and social landscape has changed drastically since the country conducted its last census in 2011. The new demographic and socio-political contours that emerge after the Herculean task concludes and the numbers are finally compiled and crunched would help lay the groundwork for future policymaking, including caste-based affirmative action, redistricting of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and disbursal of national resources and revenue among provincial governments. 

Acutely aware of the immensity of the onerous task that lies ahead, the enumerator said nearly 200 buildings and 20 houses came under her watch.”We underwent three days of training before the fieldwork began. At present, we are numbering and verifying the buildings. The housing details will be collected in the coming days through the HLO application,” the enumerator said.

While the exercise got off to a smooth start, locked houses emerged as the biggest hurdle. Many residents were away at work, requiring enumerators to make repeat visits. “People have generally been cooperative. Our main challenge is finding houses locked during the daytime, particularly newly occupied buildings,” the teacher said.

An enumerator covering the Pangappara residential area in ward 9 had completed visits to around 15 houses by the afternoon and reported a similar experience.

“The focus now is on the buildings. In the coming days, information relating to the households will also be collected. The exercise is important because it helps understand the changes that have taken place over the past decade and provides updated information for future planning and development,” the teacher said.

The Houselisting and Housing Census records information relating to the condition of buildings and the availability of basic amenities. The exercise will continue until July 30, after which the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 will be undertaken.

According to census authorities, the data collected will help the government assess housing conditions, civic infrastructure and public amenities, while providing an updated database for planning and implementation of welfare and development programmes.

(The writer Malavika Devi J R is an intern with The Hindu Bureau in Thiruvananthapuram)