Chandigarh, Feb 19 (NationPress) Haryana is set to initiate the first phase of the Census 2027, marking India's inaugural completely digital population count, from May 1 to 30.

During a virtual conference with Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Municipal Commissioners, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi emphasized that the Census is much more than a mere statistical endeavor, describing it as the essential groundwork for future policy-making, welfare initiatives, and infrastructure development over the next decade.

The conference's aim was to inform administrative leaders and Principal Census Officers about their roles, responsibilities, and timelines.

Rastogi highlighted that the Census's success would be indicative of the state's administrative proficiency, technological preparedness, and collaborative capabilities.

He pointed out that Census data is vital for evidence-based policymaking, referencing the 2011 Census, which identified districts with poor child sex ratios, leading to focused efforts under the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative.

The Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners are tasked with ensuring complete coverage, recruiting and training enumerators and supervisors, and complying with Central government guidelines within set deadlines.

Divisional Commissioners have been instructed to routinely review the districts within their jurisdiction.

Financial Commissioner (Revenue and Disaster Management) Sumita Misra urged officers to minimize errors or negligence at every stage, emphasizing the importance of effective fund use and thorough training for field personnel.

The first phase—Houselisting and Housing Census—will take place from May 1 to 30. For the first time, residents will have the option to self-enumerate via an online portal starting April 16.

After submission, individuals will receive a unique self-enumeration ID through SMS and email, which field staff will verify. Director (Census Operations) Lalit Jain noted that approximately 50,000 houselisting blocks across 203 rural and urban jurisdictions will be included, with over 50,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors deployed.

A specialized mobile app, capable of operating offline, will facilitate data collection, supported by real-time monitoring dashboards.

District-level coordination committees will be established to foster inter-departmental collaboration, while public awareness campaigns will aim to build trust and encourage participation. Officials assured that all personal data gathered during the census would remain strictly confidential.