Naxal area count likely in 2nd phase
Amidst security concerns in Naxal-affected areas, the Census 2011 exercise may give a skip and avoid venturing into the Maoist-dominated areas. Home ministry officials, however, revealed that those who are left in the first round may be enumerated in the second phase when camps will be organised to get biometric details of Indian residents.
With just two months left for the first phase of the Census exercise to end, sources close to the process said that despite efforts to undertake house-to-house enumeration in all districts across states, it may not be possible to enumerate such areas which fall within the Maoist strongholds. “If the ongoing Census exercise is unable to cover the Naxal-infested regions, we will need to skip them,” a government official said.
However, Census officials are hopeful that persons who are left behind and still want to be part of the enumeration process will visit the camps being set-up during the second phase for gathering bio-metric fingerprints and Iris of Indian residents. The second phase for gathering biometric details for the National Population Register, may also include “caste Census’’ if a decision is taken to include caste during the Census 2011 is taken by the government, the sources said.
Maintaining that no special steps are being taken to venture into Naxal-hit areas, sources said that such persons who are unable to participate in the process completely will have to wait for the next Census exercise.
The first phase of Census 2011 comprising of houselisting and housing Census was scheduled from April 1 to September 2010 covering all states and Union Territories depending upon their local conditions.
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