New Delhi: Kicking off preparations for the world’s largest population exercise, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, March 5, launched four digital tools for Census 2027 and unveiled two mascots: ‘Pragati’ (female) and ‘Vikas’ (male).
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has developed advanced digital platforms to facilitate the enumeration campaign across the country.
The four digital tools include the Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC) web application, the HLO mobile application, the Self-Enumeration (SE) portal, and the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.
HLBC is a web-map application that helps officers in charge digitally create houselisting blocks using satellite imagery, ensuring standard geographic coverage across the country.
The HLO mobile application is a secure offline mobile application for enumerators to collect and upload houselisting data.
A government spokesperson said, “Only enumerators registered on the CMMS portal can access the application. This app enables direct field-to-server data transmission, eliminating paperwork. All houselisting data will be collected through this app, which can be operated using just the registered mobile number. The application is compatible with Android and iOS platforms and can be operated in 16 regional languages.”
Interestingly, for the first time, a self-enumeration option is being introduced. The SE portal is a secure web-based facility that allows eligible household participants to submit their household information online before field operations. Upon successful submission, a unique Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) will be generated. This Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) will be shared with the enumerator, who will then be able to verify the information.
The Census Management and Monitoring System portal is a centralized, web-based digital platform designed to plan, manage, execute, and monitor all census-related activities at the administrative level. Sub-district, district, and state-level officials can track the enumeration process, field performance, and operational readiness in real-time through an integrated dashboard.
Mascots ‘Pragati’ (female enumerator) and ‘Vikas’ (male enumerator) have been introduced as friendly, relevant faces of Census 2027.
These mascots also symbolize the equal participation of women and men in fulfilling the resolve to make India a developed country by 2047. Through these mascots, information, objectives, and key messages related to Census 2027 will be disseminated effectively and conveniently to various sections of society.
Under Census 2027, data will be collected door-to-door using a secure mobile application to ensure complete coverage. To achieve this, more than 3 million enumerators, supervisors, and other census officials will be deployed across the country for Census 2027.
The official said, “Technological adoption provides innovative and inclusive approaches, ensuring accurate, secure, and complete Census 2027.”
During the first phase of Census 2027, data on housing conditions and household amenities will be collected, while the second phase will record demographic, social, and economic information for every individual in the country.
