Misconceptions fuel resistance to Census houselisting in Latehar village

PNS

Daltonganj

The ongoing houselisting and housing census exercise for Census 2027 in Jharkhand’s Latehar district has encountered resistance from residents of Kema village under the Latehar police station area, prompting district authorities to launch awareness campaigns to dispel misconceptions surrounding the enumeration process.

According to official sources, several tribal families in the village have either refused to allow census enumerators to conduct houselisting or have withdrawn consent after initially agreeing to participate. Many residents reportedly believe that the exercise infringes upon the rights and privileges granted to Scheduled Tribes under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides safeguards related to self-governance, land, and identity.

Latehar Deputy Commissioner and Principal District Census Officer Sandeep Kumar acknowledged the resistance and termed the apprehensions “misplaced and based on misinformation.” He said some residents were under the false impression that houselisting could eventually lead to displacement from their homes and lands.

“These fears are completely baseless. The houselisting exercise has no connection with land acquisition or ownership disputes,” Kumar said. He added that Block Development Officers and Sub-Divisional Officers have been deputed to the village to create awareness about the importance of the census and to build public confidence.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed that no coercive measures would be adopted and that census teams had been instructed to patiently engage with villagers. “Our focus is on persuasion and awareness. We are confident that the reluctance will gradually disappear,” he said.

Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav also appealed to residents to cooperate with enumerators, stating that the provisions of the Fifth Schedule and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) were being wrongly interpreted in the context of the census.

Officials clarified that the houselisting exercise does not require residents to produce land records, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, bank details, or any other documents. The survey, which began on May 16 and will continue until June 14, primarily collects information on housing conditions, sanitation, electricity, internet access, and household amenities.

Latehar district has 1,533 houselisting blocks and 11 charge officers overseeing the exercise across its nine blocks, all of which fall under the Fifth Schedule area.