Ahmedabad, Nov 12 (NationPress) The Director of Census Operations in Gujarat, Sujal Mayatra, conducted a review of the field operations for the Census 2027 pre-test during his recent visit to the Surat Municipal Corporation.

He assessed the ongoing House Listing and Housing Operations (HLO) in Ward No. 2 and received comprehensive updates from the field teams.

Mayatra noted that this pre-test is a critical step in the preparations for India’s first fully digital and paperless Census. The main goal is to assess field operations, evaluate digital applications, and identify potential challenges prior to the full Census.

During his visit, the Director engaged with enumerators and supervisors, praising their dedication and motivating them to achieve 100 percent digital data collection using mobile applications.

He stressed the significance of technology in improving efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in Census activities. Mayatra also pointed out the introduction of the Self-Enumeration feature, which will be implemented for the first time in Census 2027.

This feature will enable citizens to securely submit their household information through a protected digital platform. He encouraged field staff to understand this process and advocate for its adoption among the public.

Mayatra described the pre-test as more than just a technical trial; he referred to it as a rehearsal for one of the world’s largest digital data collection initiatives.

He urged the staff of the Surat Municipal Corporation to exemplify transparency, innovation, and collaboration leading up to the national Census.

Following his field visit, the Director convened a review meeting with Surat Collector Saurabh Pardhi and Deputy Municipal Commissioner Nidhi Sivach, where they discussed the progress of pre-test activities, training, monitoring systems, and the coordination between district and municipal teams.

Mayatra commended the efforts of Surat’s administration and field staff in ensuring the smooth execution of the pre-test operations. Census operations are vital as they provide essential data that influences a nation's planning, policy-making, and development strategies.

The information gathered during the census, which includes data on population size, age, gender, literacy, occupation, housing, and access to essential services, aids governments in allocating resources effectively and designing targeted welfare programs.

For both Gujarat and India, the forthcoming Census 2027 is particularly significant as it will be the first entirely digital and paperless census, allowing for quicker, more precise, and transparent data collection.