Arunachal ready for population enumeration

Itanagar, Feb 7 (PTI) Along with rest of the countryArunachal Pradesh is all set for conducting populationenumeration from February 9 to 28 next.

"As per guidelines and for convenience of fieldoperations during the census, the state has been divided into6,019 normal enumeration blocks (EBs) and seven slum EBs,"Director Census (Arunachal) Hage Batt told media persons herethis morning.

While 17 deputy commissioners cum principal censusofficers have been deployed for smooth conduct of the censusoperation, 21 district census officer (DCO), 17 additionalDCO, 215 charge officers, 569 supervisors and 3,214enumerators would be pressed into service, Batt added.

The first phase of the census, House listing, wascarried in the state during April and May last year along withcollection of information for preparation of the NationalPopulation Register.

Care would be taken to ensure that no houselesspopulation is left out.

"Census for such population will be conducted only onthe night of February 28 but the location or site of theirnight stay or resting place will be identified in advance atthe time of canvassing for the household schedule for easyenumeration," he added.

He said emphasis would also be given for coverage ofdisable persons who comprise 2.1 per cent of the state''spopulation.

Referring to the seven districts in the stateidentified as �gender critical� based on sex ratio as per 2001census, Batt said special trainings have been imparted ongender sensitization in the districts of Tawang, West Kameng,East Kameng, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Lohit and Tirap.

On being asked the reasons for low sex ratio in WestKameng, Batt revealed that many respondents are reluctant toshare information on female members of the household.

"Most of the females in the district usually consume awild creeper, available in the forest to avoid pregnancy whichis another factor for low sex ratio," he added.

As per 2001 census, the state has a total populationof 10,97,968 -- 5,79,941 male and 5,18,027 female. It has anaverage density of 13 persons per square kilometre.

The sex ratio of the state is well below the nationalaverage with 893 females per thousand males. The literacypercentage of the state stands at 54.34 per cent (63.83 percent male and 43.53 per cent female).