Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam kicked off its Census 2027 self-enumeration phase on August 2, utilizing a new digital platform to gather population data. Residents can submit their details through an online portal or via smartphones through August 16. The process spans 35 districts, covering 166 sub-districts and 26,236 villages. Director of Census Operations Biswajit Pegu confirmed the system is available in 16 languages, including Assamese, and includes a 33-question survey. Data will be stored at the National Data Centre. The second phase, the Housing Census, begins August 17 and runs through September 15. The state has already trained 59 Master Trainers to manage the rollout.
Census participation is currently paused in Sivasagar and Charaideo due to severe flooding. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has encouraged public participation, stating, "Today marks the beginning of online self-enumeration for Census 2027 in Assam, where you can sit in the comfort of your home and fill in your details. I just did mine; requesting everyone to fill their details correctly and be a part of this exercise." Citizens needing help can call the toll-free helpline at 1855.
Flood recovery remains the government's primary focus. The Assam Public Service Commission postponed the August 9 Assistant Engineer recruitment exam for the Public Health Engineering Department at the Chief Minister's request to accommodate affected candidates. Relief measures for Sivasagar and Charaideo include a one-year land tax waiver and electricity bill support for those consuming up to 300 units in July. The government also approved Rs 7.62 crore to buy school uniforms for students in Classes I to VIII across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Jorhat.
The overall flood-affected population has dropped to 1.78 lakh across 349 villages. The current death toll remains at 82. Charaideo and Sivasagar record the highest impact, with 75,199 and 58,824 residents affected respectively. Approximately 15,000 people occupy 44 relief camps, while 5,569 rely on 17 relief distribution centres. Floods have submerged 15,060 hectares of cropland and impacted 8,308 animals. The state government expects a comprehensive damage assessment to begin August 9, supported by Rs 379.35 crore in federal assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund.
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