BMC gears up for second phase of census

Mumbai, Feb 7 (PTI) The local civic body is gearing upfor the second phase of the 15th national census, that willinclude head counting and population enumeration, fromFebruary 9-28.

The second phase will also include the count of thehomeless people in the metropolis.

All the civic-run primary schools in the city will remainclose between February 14-March 5 as the BMC has roped inteachers from these schools for the Census exercise.

"All the teachers of primary section will be on censusduty from February 14 to March 5, so BMC-run primary schoolswill be closed till then. About 7,000 teachers will be part ofthe census exercise. The extra classes will be conducted forthe students later on," Additional Municipal CommissionerManisha Mhaiskar said.

To count the homeless, the BMC ward officials will carryout operations at the night of February 28 but the officialswill start ground work four weeks before.

"We have asked all the 24 ward offices to gatherinformation on homeless people. The survey will begin after 11pm and will continue till early morning. The officers havebeen asked to collect information including their name, age,mode of income, from where they arrived and family membersamong others," Mhaiskar said.