POPULATION CENSUS
The term census has teen derived front the Latin word censere
which means value or tax, In ancient times population census
aimed primarily to prepare lists for taxation purposes, Thus,
the scop: ofa census was limited to heads of families, farmers,
merchants, landlords, and able-bodied men suitable for military
service,etc. The modern census, however, includes every person
in the state. The history of population census is very old. As much
as five thousand years back the Sumerians used to count their
population for taxation purposes. Evidence shows census taking
Rome. In
in ancient Egypt, Babylonia, India, China, Palestine and
Moses in
Biblical times, two censuses were undertaken, one by
1951 BC and the other by David in 1017 BC. In India Arthashastra
Kautilya prescribed population census in third century BC.
of
operations were held during the reign of Ashoka (270BC
Census
During the reign of Akbar in 16th century population
230 BC).
collected. In England, William, the Conqueror ordered
datawere population counting
Population census in 1085-1086. In 1449
intervals were first made in 1665 in New F was taken in
(Novascotia), The first census of the USA
Acadie
censusin 1801.
By the middle of the
1870. England had her first in almost all European
operations started
ncentury census 1965-74 atotal of 185cOuntries in the
COuntries. Duringthe period
world conducted census operation.
Meaning and Scope of Census
The UNO prepared alist ofuseful topics tobecovered bya census
in 1970. It defined population census as enumerating the entire
population of acountry. To quote this definition, "A census of
population is thetotal process of collating, 'compiling, evaluating
analysing and publishing demographic, economic and social data
pertaining, at specified time, to all persons in acountry or a well
delimited part of a country."2 Thus, the following may be called
the salientfeatures of census:
1. Each individual is separately enumerated.
2. Characteristics of each person areseparatelyrecorded. These
characteristics include sex, marital status, age, religion,
literacy, educational attainments, profession and economic
activity, etc.
3. The census COvers a well-defined area.
4. The census operationsare carried at regular intervals such
wacGaRacaasRAeaNs
as in the [Link] census in India, In UK and Japan
it is conducted after every five years.
SSuASSRNroeErgegnJ
The above features of population census also clarify itslscope.
Operations are carried on through a questionnaire. Information
is collected from each individual. The willingness and ability of
the respondents is given due consideration. Therefore, topics
arousing fear and prejudice are left outside the scope of census
questionnaire. According to the list prepared by UNO the
following topics are recommended to find place in a questionnaire:
Place where found at the time of census; Total population, Place
of usual residence; Locality; Place of birth; Urban and rural; Sex;
Household composition; Age; Relationshiptohead of household;
Marital status; Children born alive; Children living; Literacy;
School attendance; Educational attainment; Type of activity;
Occupation; Industry; Status (as employer; Employee, etc.).
Besides, the following topics may also be included: Duration
of residence; Place of previous residence; Place of work; Family
composition; Relationship to head of family; Age at marriage;
Duration of marriage; Marriage order; Citizenship; Educational
qualifications; National and ethnic group; Language; Religion;
Socio-economic status; Dependency; Main source of livelihood,
etc1
Census in India
In India schedules for the census in 1951, 1961, 1971 and 1981 have
been continuously revised and reformed. The census schedules
contain: (a) House list, (b) Establishment schedule, (c) Individual
slip. This classification was particularly introduced in 1971
census. Thedetails of this classification are as follows: In addition,
a special census of degree holders and technical personnel was
held in 1971 and 1981.
(a) House list: The house list is prepared 6 to 8 months prior to the
census enumeration. Each house in the country,residential
and non-residential was numbered for enumeration.
(6) Establishment schedule: Introduced for the first time in
1971 it covered all establishments where people work
Such as manufacturing, trade or other establishments. An
establishment has been defined as a place where things are
produced and seryices_ offered. The following particulars
were collected for each establishment:
1. Name of the establishment or of the proprietor.
64
Demography and Population Problems
2. Whether the establishment isis a government,
government, a private or a co-operative institution. a quasi-
3. Numbers of persons
working in
establishments.
4. The description of the
manufacturing
production process or servicing
type of power used in case of
household
factory or unregistered workshop.
done,
industry, registered
5. If a trade
establishment, description of goods bought
sold, whether retail or wholesale. or
6. If an
establishment is used for other
as an office, hotel, purposes, its description
(c) Individualslip. This
theatre,-ete.
1. Name, 2. contained 17 items about each
Relationship to head,
individual:
status, 6. For 3. Sex, 4. Age, 5. Marital
(b) Any child currently married women only: (a)
born in the last one year; Age at marriage;
of birth; (b) 7. Birth place: (a)
Rural/Urban;
residence: (a) Place of last District; (d) State/Country, 8. Place
(c)
(d) State/Country, 9. residence; (b) Rural/Urban; (c) Last
of enumeration, 10. Duration of residence in District;
village
11. Scheduled Caste or or toWn
Tribe. 12. Literacy, Religion,
13. Educational level, Scheduled
15. Other 14. Mother tongue,
(i) Worker; (ii) languages,_16. Main activity: (a) Broad
trade, profession Non-worker; (b) Place of work (Name ofcategory:
or service); (c) Description of industry,
worker. 17. Secondary work: (a) Broad work; (d) Class of
(Name of village/town); (C) Name of category; (b) Place of work
of indu_try, trade, protession or establishment: (d) Nature
() Classof worker.
service; (e) Description of work:
Procedure for Census Taking
The following steps are now followed in census operation in India:
1. Fixing of the Machinery for Census Operation: Census
operation in India is a Union subject incharge of the Ministry
of Home Affairs. A Senior IAS Oficer is appointed as Census
Commissioner. For each Slate and Union Territory there is a
Director of Census Operations. In every State and Union Territory
thousands of enumerators are appointed with a hierarchy of
officers from the enumerator to the director. Theentire machinery
of State administration and local self-government is involved
in the process. Among the enumerators are generally included
primary school teachers, Patwaries and village level workers and
officers in the villages and teachers, clerks and other staff in local
offices in the urban areas. The Central Government isempowered
to notify and conduct a census, according to the Indian Census
Act of 1948. The Act authorised the enumerators to compel the
respondents to give correct answers to questions
included in the
Schedule. It also guarantees that this information will be
kept
Confidential and shall not be used as evidence in acourt of
law.
Scope of This is d
the Census:
2. Deciding the
before the conmmencee
of important census data users
census operation.
of Map and Demarcation of Rural
Rural and Urban
[Link]
operation.
Areas: This is over the total area of census
each he
4. House Listing: A house list is prepared and house,
residential and non-residerntial, is numbered.
[Link] of Enumerators and Officers: This is done with avioe
togive each person a clear idea about his duties, responsibilities
and powers.
6. Enumeration: The data of enumeration and its period is
specified and advertised. The method of enumeration adopted
is known as the extended de jure method, or "Usual Residence"
method. This method was used for the first time in 1941, though
incompletely. It was used in all subsequent census operations.
7. Checking and Editing: The data collected by the enumerators
is now carefully checked and edited by the supervisors.
8. Provisional Totals: After a short period provisional totals of the
population count are published in the newspapers.
9. Post-enumeration Check: This is an essential step.
10. Computerised Tabulation:Now tabulation through computers
is done under the following main headings, prepared for al
the States and Union Territories': (1) General Population Tables,
(2) Economic Tables, (3) Socialand Cultural Tables, (4) Migration
Tables, (5) Establishment Tables, (6) Fertility Tables
(Sample),
(7) Special Tables for Degree-Holders and Technical Personnel,
and (8) Housing Tables. After the census
operation the data
gathered are published. This forms a useful background for
preparation of plan development in the country. It is the main
source of drafting five year plans. It gives an idea about social and
oconomic conditions as well as the various problems. In brief the
following may be called the uses of a census report:
(1) Itis the primary source of population data.
(2) It shows trends of population growth and
structure of population. change in the
(3) It contributes to our knowledge of changes in economic
and industrial fields.
(4) It givesan idea of educational attainments.
(5) It provides a basis for demarcation of voting constituencies
in democratic countries.