KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 8
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed preparations for the National Census 2021, being conducted from November 11 through 25, aiming to reach every citizen’s doorstep.
As many as 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents have already been trained already.
Similarly, coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level, sectors such as social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure, among others.
The census includes eighty questionnaires with 25 related to listing of house and households, 55 main questions. This year, the census also plans to use ‘community questionnaires’ for the first time in National Census history.
The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc.
The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. It stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses. The census would be taken at an individual’s place of residence where that individual frequently resides.
CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc.
Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging.
He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law.
Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said.
This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS.
The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion.
CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census.
CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said it is the responsibility of the local levels also to update the varied statistics in the automated information system for the purpose of development planning.
He shared that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country.
Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by the Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA Nepal deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
MAN chair Laxman Dutt Pant said on the eve of national census, around 200 journalists of all seven provinces were given orientation on the matter.
The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser.