SRINAGAR: Director Census Jammu and Kashmir Amit Sharma on Thursday said the upcoming Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases with extensive use of modern technology and large-scale deployment of manpower across the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference, Sharma described the Census as a major national exercise and said the interaction was aimed at informing the public about the process, methodology and the role of citizens. He noted that he could not attend the Srinagar briefing due to a flight cancellation but had addressed a similar press conference earlier in Jammu.
He said the Census process has been activated at multiple administrative levels in Jammu and Kashmir, involving a vast workforce of around 25,000 to 30,000 supervisors and nearly 10,000 enumerators. In addition, several senior officers have been designated as Chief Principal Census Officers, while about 220 officers are already coordinating to ensure smooth implementation.
Sharma said the exercise will be carried out in two distinct phases, each involving systematic data collection. He highlighted that advanced digital tools will be used, including a dedicated house-listing application, GIS mapping, satellite imagery and scientific block-level planning to ensure accuracy and transparency.
He further said a self-enumeration facility has been introduced through an online portal, enabling citizens to voluntarily submit their data. Urging public participation, he said the platform is user-friendly and designed for secure and convenient data submission.
The Director Census added that senior constitutional authorities, including the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister, have already participated in the self-enumeration process, setting an example for citizens.
He said the Census will involve end-to-end digital data management, with information being securely processed and stored at designated data centres across the country. The use of technology, he added, will aid verification, validation and accurate compilation of data.
Sharma emphasised that Census data plays a crucial role in governance, planning and policy-making, and appealed to the public to cooperate fully with authorities to ensure comprehensive and error-free data collection across Jammu and Kashmir.
