Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Time to count: On government’s delay in conducting census

Time to count: On government’s delay in conducting census

The Census (जनगणना) is too vital (महत्वपूर्ण) for the government to delay it any further

The importance of the decennially (दशकीय) conducted Census cannot be overstated (To state too strongly). As it tallies data on several features of the Indian population, such as basic demography (जनसांख्यिकी), literacy levels, caste status, educational levels, spoken languages, religion, marital status, occupation, and migration (प्रवास) status among others, the Census is vital to administrative functions and planning of welfare schemes. Census data are also critical (गंभीर, आलोचनात्मक) as they are used as a frame to underpin (To replace or strengthen the foundation of something) other sample surveys that are representative of the whole population. The national Census is utilised by international agencies to project the world’s population as well. India has conducted the Census every 10 years since 1881; only 2021, a pandemic (वैश्विक महामारी)-affected year, was an exception as the exercise was postponed. With the deadline for freezing of boundaries further extended to June 30, 2023, the Census can effectively be conducted only some months after this event. Census enumeration (गणना, विवरण) is preceded by activities such as house-listing. Most States were in line to begin this in early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But the repeated postponement (स्थगन) and, consequently (फलस्वरूप, इसलिये), the undue delay in the Census’s commencement (प्रारम्भ) will severely affect the availability of vital information on population numbers at district and other lower levels.

The pandemic has been cited (To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)) as a reason for the delay. The fact that lockdowns and physical distancing norms are now a thing of the past and infection levels in the country have remained relatively low ever since the last Omicron variant wave happened in early 2022 suggests that this is no longer a valid excuse. In fact, Census data should validate the various estimates on mortality (नश्वरता, मृत्यु) based on ‘excess deaths’ analyses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it is imperative (Something unavoidable or urgent) that decadal changes in India’s demography related to urbanisation and migration of people across States are captured adequately (पर्याप्त रूप से). Welfare schemes such as the targeted Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act depend on population estimates, and the government continues to rely on Census 2011, which is now clearly outdated (पुराना, अप्रचलित). Inter-State disparities (Lack of similarity or equality) in population growth rates could also impinge (To encroach or infringe) upon debates on the prospective delimitation of electoral boundaries and apportioning of seats across States. Considering these and other imperatives for the smooth planning and implementation of administrative, welfare and statistical management for governance, the Union government must show alacrity (Promptness in response) in commencing the Census.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Census (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - जनगणना
English Meaning - An official count of a population.

2.Vital (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - महत्वपूर्ण
English Meaning - Absolutely necessary; essential.

3.Decennially (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - दशकीय
English Meaning - For ten years.

4.Demography (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - जनसांख्यिकी
English Meaning - The statistical study of the human population.

5.Migration (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रवास
English Meaning - Movement from one part of something to another.

6.Critical (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - गंभीर, आलोचनात्मक
English Meaning - Inclined to criticize severely.

7.Pandemic (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - वैश्विक महामारी
English Meaning - A Disease occurring over a wide geographic area.

8.Enumeration (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - गणना, विवरण
English Meaning - The act of making a list of things one after another.

9.Postponement (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्थगन
English Meaning - The action of postponing something; deferral.

10.Commencement (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रारम्भ
English Meaning - An act of commencing.

11.Consequently (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - फलस्वरूप, इसलिये
English Meaning - As a result.

12.Mortality (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - नश्वरता, मृत्यु
English Meaning - The state of being subject to death.

13.Urbanization (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - शहरीकरण
English Meaning - The act of urbanizing.

14.Adequately (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - पर्याप्त रूप से
English Meaning - In a way that is sufficient.

15.Outdated (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पुराना, अप्रचलित
English Meaning - Obsolete

16.Overstate (Verb)

English Meaning - To state too strongly.

17.Underpin (Verb)

English Meaning - To replace or strengthen the foundation of something.

18.Cite (Noun)

English Meaning - To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear (as before a court)

19.Imperative (Noun)

English Meaning - Something unavoidable or urgent.

20.Disparity (Noun)

English Meaning - Lack of similarity or equality.

21.Impinge (Verb)

English Meaning - To encroach or infringe.

22.Alacrity (Noun)

English Meaning - Promptness in response.