GANDERBAL: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal today presided over the ongoing Phase-I training for Census-2027 (House Listing and Housing Census) and underscored the need for accuracy, coordination and timely execution at all levels.
The programme is being conducted for district, sub-divisional and charge-level officers, besides dealing assistants and technical staff, to equip them with the required skills for smooth conduct of the census exercise.
Chief Planning Officer, Tehsildars, Chief Executive Officer, MC Ganderbal, trainers and other officials associated with the census process were present on the occasion.
Addressing the participants, DC highlighted that the House Listing and Housing Census is the first and most crucial stage of the census exercise, forming the foundation for subsequent enumeration. He emphasized that accurate and reliable data is vital for effective planning and development.
He called upon officers and field functionaries to perform their duties with sincerity and a strong sense of responsibility. He also urged them to make optimum use of the training sessions to clearly understand their roles and ensure error-free data collection.
Earlier, Assistant Director Census Operations briefed the meeting that the upcoming census will witness a major shift towards digital operations, aimed at improving efficiency and transparency. The exercise will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase scheduled in June 2026 and the second in March 2027, while snow-bound areas will be covered in September 2026.
A key feature of the census will be the provision for self-enumeration, enabling citizens to submit their details through an online portal ahead of the official enumeration period, he added.
The Assistant Director informed that officials are also being trained on the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), which will support efficient management of the entire process. The use of a dedicated mobile application for data collection has also been introduced to ensure accuracy and real-time monitoring.
The training hierarchy includes capacity building of master trainers, who will subsequently train field-level staff to ensure uniform understanding of procedures across the district.
The DC stressed upon the trainers to focus on providing practical, hands-on training to the participants to ensure better understanding of field-level operations. He emphasized that interactive sessions, demonstrations and real-time problem solving would enable officials to grasp procedures more effectively and carry out their responsibilities with confidence during the census exercise.
He reiterated that strong preparedness and coordinated efforts are essential for the successful conduct of Census-2027 and directed all stakeholders to work in close coordination.