The state-level census coordination committee in Jharkhand has put forward a significant proposal regarding the upcoming 2027 national census, specifically concerning the crucial first phase of house listing and enumeration. According to authoritative sources, the committee has unanimously recommended a tentative timeframe spanning from May 16 to June 14 for conducting these preliminary activities within the state.
Committee Meeting and Formal Proposal
This unanimous decision was formally adopted during a pivotal state-level census coordination committee meeting, which was presided over by Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar in the first week of January. The proceedings of this meeting, which outline the proposed schedule and other decisions, were subsequently documented and forwarded to the Directorate of Census Operations, India, on January 16, as confirmed by the same sources.
Approval Process and Official Statement
Kundan Kumar, the nodal officer of the census cell in Palamu district who also serves as the additional collector, provided clarity on the next steps. He emphasized that the proposed dates from May 16 to June 14 for house listing and enumeration in Jharkhand are not yet final. This schedule first requires explicit approval from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India at the central level before implementation can proceed.
Kumar further reiterated an important directive from the national authorities, stating that, as per the instructions from the Director and Census Commissioner of India, the entire process of house listing and enumeration must be completed within a strict one-month period in the state. This underscores the time-sensitive nature of the census operations.
Challenges Posed by Weather Conditions
However, the proposed May-June window has raised considerable concerns due to the prevailing weather patterns in Jharkhand. Sources indicate that mid-May to mid-June typically brings severe heatwave conditions to many parts of the state, with Palamu district being particularly affected. During peak summer months, temperatures in Palamu can soar beyond 44.8 degrees Celsius, creating potentially adverse working conditions for enumerators.
Enumerators tasked with visiting households for listing may face significant difficulties and health risks while operating in such extreme heat. This environmental challenge adds a layer of complexity to the logistical planning of the census exercise.
National Framework and State Flexibility
It is important to note that the national schedule for house listing and enumeration across India is set to occur between April and September of this year. Within this broader six-month window, individual states have been granted the flexibility to select a specific 30-day slot that best suits their regional conditions and administrative capacities. Jharkhand's proposal of May 16 to June 14 represents its chosen period within this nationally stipulated timeframe.
Training Initiatives and Workforce Deployment
In another key decision from the same committee meeting, a structured training program has been organized to prepare personnel for the census. A four-day training session for 38 master trainers is scheduled to take place at the Sri Krishan Institute of Public Administration in Ranchi. This training will run from January 28 to January 31, ensuring that trainers are adequately prepared to subsequently instruct the larger workforce.
Regarding the scale of operations, Jharkhand plans to deploy a substantial workforce for the 2027 census. A robust fleet of approximately 76,000 enumerators and observers will be mobilized across the state to ensure comprehensive coverage and accurate data collection during both the house listing phase and the subsequent population enumeration.
The successful execution of this massive exercise hinges on careful planning, considering both administrative directives and the very real challenges posed by Jharkhand's summer climate.
