National Census Project 2011 Commences Today

The 2011 National Census Project has commenced from today with an aim to generate a comprehensive database of the country’s people and their identities, said media reports.

Under the project, every member of country’s 1.2 billion population spread across 35 states will be enumerated and identified, reports said.

It is one of the most ambitious national projects and will be implemented with funds of Rs 2,200 crore, said reports.

Under the census, information like ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, and availability to treated or untreated drinking water facility will also be collected, reports said.

Also, finger prints and photographs of the residents will be taken to bolster government’s efforts into strengthening the security of the nation, said reports.

However, as it has been the practice since India won independence, even the 2011 project will not be collecting any caste-based information.

The project will begin with the enumeration of the first citizen of the country, President President Pratibha Patil. On completion of the census exercise the National Population Register (NPR) will be created.

With the NPR, the government will have the entire population’s information under one database. After this, every citizen will be given a unique number.

(Based on internet reports)