Shimla, Sep 24 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Saturday decided to conduct socio-economic and caste census for 2011 in the state from next month, the government said.
The census will be conducted in two phases: in remote areas from Oct 12 to Nov 17 and in the remaining areas of the state from Nov 14 to 19, according to an official statement here.
The statement said the census would help formulate policies and programmes for the weaker sections. It will also help identify deserving families to be covered under various poverty alleviation programmes of the central and state governments.
The economic status of different sections will also be ascertained.
As per the provisional general census figures, the population of Himachal Pradesh is 68,56,509, of which 34,73,892 are males and 33,82,617 females.
The population accounts for 0.57 percent of the total population of the country, which has been put at 1.21 billion.