State Level Census Coordination Committee Reviews Progress of Census Phase-I Operations in Punjab

Chandigarh, June 4 (WISHAVWARTA):- A meeting of the State Level Census Coordination Committee (SLCCC) was held today under the chairmanship of Mr K A P Sinha, Chief Secretary, Punjab, to review the progress of Census 2027: Phase-I – Houselisting and Housing Census Operations being undertaken across the State. The meeting was attended by State Nodal officer for Census Shri Ghanshyam Thori, Administrative Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, along with senior officers heading the departments of revenue, planning, finance, rural development and education who are members of the SLCCC. The meeting was attended by all the Principal Census Officers (Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners) of Punjab via video conferencing. The meeting was convened by Dr. Navjot Khosa, Director Census Operations, Punjab.
During the meeting, a comprehensive review was conducted regarding the progress of Phase-I Census activities, including the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO), creation and completion of Houselisting Blocks (HLBs), and mechanisms for ensuring quality and accuracy of data collection. The Chief Secretary emphasized the critical importance of timely completion of census operations, which form the foundation for evidence-based planning and policymaking.

Dr. Navjot Khosa informed the Committee that work on a total of 52,365 Houselisting Blocks is currently underway across Punjab. It was highlighted that five districts namely- Barnala, Fazilka, Malerkotla, Moga and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and five Municipal Corporations namely- Barnala, Abohar, Moga, Hoshiarpur and Batala have demonstrated commendable performance through effective field mobilisation, efficient supervision, and robust monitoring mechanisms. Their efforts were appreciated by the Chief Secretary for setting a positive benchmark in the implementation of census activities.

Reviewing the district-wise progress, the Chief Secretary Mr Sinha expressed satisfaction over the achievements made so far while noting that a very few number of districts and urban local bodies were lagging behind the prescribed timelines. He directed the concerned authorities of these districts and urban local bodies to intensify field operations and ensure accelerated progress. All Principal Census Officers were directed by the Chief Secretary to ensure 100 percent progress of Houselisting Blocks and henceforth to supervise the completion within the timeline.

The Chief Secretary further directed all Principal Census Officers to maintain close and continuous supervision of census operations to ensure that the work under Phase-I is completed within the stipulated timeframe. Officers were instructed to conduct regular reviews and undertake surprise field inspections to verify the completeness, accuracy, and quality of data being collected. Special emphasis was laid on monitoring critical census parameters and maintaining high standards of data integrity throughout the enumeration process.

Recognising the importance of public participation and cooperation, the Chief Secretary also advised district administrations to proactively issue press releases and undertake public outreach initiatives to address misinformation and negative narratives related to census activities. He stressed the need for trust-building measures and transparent communication to encourage citizen cooperation and facilitate smooth conduct of field operations.

In view of the prevailing weather conditions, all Principal Census Officers were directed to ensure strict implementation of heatwave advisories and necessary safety measures for Enumerators and Supervisors engaged in fieldwork. Adequate precautions, including hydration, scheduling adjustments, and awareness measures, were advised wherever required to safeguard field personnel during the census exercise.

Reiterating the significance of adhering to the prescribed schedule, the Mr Sinha emphasized that 100 percent completion of Phase-I census work must be achieved before the second week of June 2026. He categorically stated that no extension of timelines would be granted, as the notified period for conducting Census 2027: Phase-I – Houselisting and Housing Operations in Punjab is from 15th May 2026 to 13th June 2026.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all participating officers to ensure the successful, timely, and accurate completion of the Census Phase-I operations across Punjab through coordinated efforts, rigorous monitoring, and effective field-level implementation.
——