Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 begins

Tripura, June 29 (ANI): The first ever post independence Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 to identify people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) began on Wednesday from Sankhola village of Hazemara block in West Tripura District.

It is a door-to-door census in the entire country.aunching the Census, B.K.Sinha Secretary, Rural Development ,Government of India said this gigantic exercise will pave the way to identify the households living below the poverty line in rural and urban areas of the country.

"The entire process will be completed by end of 2011-12. The results relating to the identification of poor households would be utilized in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17)," he added.

He said the BPL Census will be conducted by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations with the technical and financial support of the Ministry of Rural Development.

"The Census would be based on a self-declaration model of the respondents. The information would be verified and approved by the Gram Sabha. Procedure for filing claims and objections and its disposal will be prescribed separately by the Ministry. The Ministry will also provide detailed guidelines for conducting survey and finalization of BPL list," he added.

Low cost handheld device will be used for collection of data in Socio Economic Census 2011. It would reduce the time required in processing the data after collection in the field.

Bharat Electronic Ltd. (BEL) is involved in the production of this device on large scale. It is proposed to use this device, produced by BEL, in Socio Economic Census 2011.

National Informatics Centre (NIC) will develop the Management of Information System (MIS) for the management of the database of Socio Economic Census 2011 and to facilitate its subsequent use by the MORD, other ministries and State Governments for their own requirements. (ANI)