Gurugram is facing significant obstruction to the ongoing house-listing phase of the Census of India, primarily from gated societies. Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) are denying enumerators entry, citing concerns over privacy, security, and alleged lack of prior notification.
The issue escalated to the point where the Gurugram district administration recommended filing First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals obstructing Census work, under Section 79 of the Census Act, 1948. This section penalizes willful obstruction of Census operations.
Several societies, particularly in sectors 56, 57, 27, and 45, have actively prevented enumerators from conducting the house-listing exercise. RWAs are demanding written permission from residents before allowing enumerators access, a process deemed impractical and a violation of the Census Act. They also allege insufficient communication from the Census department regarding the schedule and purpose of the exercise.
District Census Officer, Manmohan Singh, stated that the house-listing phase is crucial for creating a database for the decennial Census and is essential for planning and policy-making. He emphasized that enumerators are government employees performing a statutory duty and have the right to access all households.
The administration has held meetings with RWA representatives to explain the legal provisions and the importance of cooperation. Despite these efforts, obstruction continues. Officials highlight that the Census Act supersedes RWA rules and that residents are legally obligated to provide information.
The recommended FIRs target individuals specifically preventing enumerators from performing their duties, not the societies themselves. The administration aims to send a strong message that obstructing the Census is a punishable offense. The house-listing phase, initially scheduled to conclude in March, has been extended due to these disruptions. The completion of this phase is vital for the subsequent population enumeration stage.
