Census will help check illegal mass immigration: Tarun Gogoi

Dispur (Assam), Apr 2 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said the mammoth countrywide census would help check influx of illegal immigrants into the state.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Gogoi said: "It (census) will help us to detain infiltrators in Assam because their (people) names will be recorded. You can check up also whose name will be recorded, - those who have holding, those who have got a house or a shelter also."

"I and my wife filled up all the details as sought by the census officials. People should cooperate with the officials and reveal the truth and not try to suppress facts," he added.

India on Thursday began what it claims to be the largest census exercise ever anywhere across the world.

The 2011 Census will see the engagement of 2.5 million enumerators, who will ensure that every single citizen is counted. The estimated cost of the Census is 22 billion rupees.

The mammoth exercise will be undertaken in two phases.

The first phase, called the House Listing and Housing Census, will be conducted between April and July this year. The second phase, called the Population Enumeration, will be conducted simultaneously all over the country from February 9-28, 2011.

Meanwhile, enumerators will also for the first time collect information like ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, having access to treated or untreated drinking water facilities, and will also obtain fingerprints and photographs, which would help the government formulate plans and strengthen the country's security.

However, the exercise has many challenges, which include coverage of a vast geographical area, widespread illiteracy, and diverse cultures and languages. (ANI)