PHOTO: PAKISTAN TODAY
The census was due in 2008 but could not be held for a variety of reasons.
In the first phase, questionnaires will be distributed in two K-P districts – Peshawar and Mardan.
Transgender community to be counted in national census for first time
According to the census plan, both districts are divided into 7,301 blocks – 4,618 blocks are in Peshawar district while 2,683 blocks are in Mardan.
The department is to hire around 2,309 enumerators for Peshawar while 1,342 will be hired in Mardan where each enumerator will cover two blocks within a period of one month. Each block will have 250 houses.
Additionally, control rooms have also been set up on provincial, divisional, district and tehsil levels to assist the teams and address problems and respond to any untoward situation.
To ensure transparency, vigilance teams and coordination committees will be formed on district level to monitor census work and ensure complete coverage of the population.
According to a bureau official, millions of forms have been printed that carry a unique barcode to avoid processing of photocopied or locally printed forms.
However, there is no separate column for transgender people. In light of the Lahore High Court’s ruling to include them in census, the enumerators would be asked to write transgender in any column given the individual belongs to the community.
The first phase would be completed till April 15 while the second phase would begin from April 25 till May 25.
The enumerator would be tasked to fill form 1 that will contain details for household listing operation while forms will be used to list details of individuals.
In the second phase, census would be launched in Hazara, Malakand, Kohat, Bannu and DI Khan divisions and seven agencies of Fata.
Staff required
The provincial government will provide around 17,141 officials from different departments, mostly from the education department.
The employees from education, revenue, local government, population welfare and other departments would be hired for the census.
A group of master trainers will train 72 more trainers each, selected from each department. The 72 trainers will then train 14,635 staff for a total of 21,982 blocks in K-P and 3,793 blocks of Fata.
In the first phase, they will train 4,550 field staff in 113 batches and 10,135 field staff in 350 batches within a month. The field staff will receive four-day training.
Countdown: First phase of census begins March 14
Officials of the bureau, requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, that manuals of instruction for form one and two have been printed
Map of each census block showing well known landmarks would be provided to enumerators and supervisors. The enumerator will record computerised identity card number of each head of the family or any member of the household for the verification purpose.
“Public awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the masses and seek their cooperation to get every person registered,” documents stated.
Publicity to cover penalty provision in the act for the wrongdoers will be made to ensure credibility of census data. Results would be issued 60 days after the process has been completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.
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