Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai

Chennai, Jun 3: Tamil Nadu is set to commence the long-awaited population census process with a 15-day self-enumeration exercise beginning July 17, marking the start of preparations for the country's decennial census.

According to official sources, citizens will be able to participate in the census through digital self-reporting during the self-enumeration phase. This will be followed by the Houselisting and Housing Census, scheduled to be conducted across the state from August 1 to 30.

The census exercise, originally due in 2021, was postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last nationwide population census was conducted in 2011.

Officials from the Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu, said extensive preparations are underway to ensure the smooth implementation of the exercise. Training programmes have already been organised for master trainers, who will subsequently train local-level census personnel across the state.

A senior official said the initiative represents an important step towards the successful execution of the first phase of the census process.

The training programmes are aimed at improving data accuracy, strengthening coordination among field staff and ensuring efficient collection of information during the two-phase census operation.

The upcoming census is expected to provide crucial demographic, social and economic data that will assist policymakers in planning welfare programmes and developmental initiatives across the country.