It will be a tight rope walk for the government as it prepares for the long-delayed census exercise next year followed by the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats. Government sources said preparations for the census exercise needs to begin at least six months in advance as state governments need to put procedures in place, which means the process may kick start by mid next year.
The training of the first few batches of enumerators was already done in 2020 before the Covid lockdown, but as the exercise could not take place in 2021, renewed efforts are needed to impart training in states before the process begins for the 2025 census. This will include the Registrar General of India equipping the enumerators with smart phones which are user-friendly during field visits.
The idea is to make the process as digital-friendly as possible. The RGI has been toying with the idea of making the upcoming census the first digital exercise where self enumeration can be done by individuals who will be able to register details like mobile number and email addresses. Sources said enumerators will be able to collect their data on digital devices.
The census houselisting and enumeration exercise will also have to factor in aspects like population enumeration. And when the union home ministry sits down to decide on controversial issues like the need to update the National Population Register, a move facing resistance from some opposition ruled states like West Bengal, the census exercise will determine the way forward.
The next step of conducting a delimitation exercise is likely to be a bigger challenge as there are many states where the population has come down because of various factors. In Assam, the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in 2023 took into consideration several factors that resulted in distinct electoral outcomes as well. For a nationwide delimitation, the government may go to parliament to take into consideration aspirations of people and factors other than population like geography, terrain and so on.
Government sources said consultations will be held before a delimitation law is drafted, which will give an opportunity to all stakeholders to share their worries and expectations. Only a hard fought consensus will pave the road ahead for a nationwide delimitation exercise, admit officials, once the head count begins.