Shillong, Apr 30: Self-enumeration for Census 2027 will commence across Meghalaya from May 1.
The announcement was made today during a press conference organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Shillong in collaboration with the Directorate of Census Operations, Meghalaya.
Addressing reporters, Director of Census Operations, Meghalaya, Biswajit Pegu, stated that Census 2027 will be a landmark exercise, being the 16th census overall and the eighth since independence. He highlighted that for the first time, the entire census process – from enumeration to data analysis – will be conducted digitally using mobile applications and the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.
Pegu informed that citizens will have the option of self-enumeration through an online portal from May 1 to 15. This facility allows individuals to fill in their household details, which will subsequently be verified by enumerators during house-to-house visits.
Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 includes self-enumeration and house listing operations (HLO). Following the self-enumeration period, HLO will be conducted from May 16 to June 14 during which enumerators will collect data on housing conditions, assets and basic amenities through a structured questionnaire comprising 33 questions. Phase 2, population enumeration, will take place in February 2027, with the reference date set as March 1, 2027.
The digital nature of the census will ensure improved data quality through pre-loaded questionnaires in mobile applications and faster processing, enabling timely publication of results, Pegu said.
On data security, Pegu assured that robust safeguards have been implemented to maintain confidentiality. Individual and household-level data will not be disclosed and only aggregated data at various administrative levels will be released for policy formulation and development planning. Mobile numbers collected will be used only for communication and verification purposes.
He further informed that approximately 9,000 enumerators and supervisors will be deployed across the state, with a strong multi-layer supervision mechanism to ensure data accuracy. The census will cover all normal and institutional households, while certain categories such as foreigners and diplomatic personnel will be excluded during the HLO phase.
A toll-free helpline – 1855 – has been launched to assist citizens with queries related to the census process, including house-listing operations and population enumeration. It will also provide guidance on procedures, address concerns and ensure that people receive accurate and timely information.
