Census counting kicks off in Mumbai at Raj Bhavan

The municipal corporation started the 15th official census 2011 at Raj Bhavan on Saturday morning, reports HT Correspondent.

The municipal corporation started the 15th official census 2011 at Raj Bhavan on Saturday morning.

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Governor K. Sankaranar-ayanan was enumerated by census officials, marking the official launch of the state-wide census operation.

“The governor appealed to citizens to extend full support to the census officials, who will visiting their houses, by furnishing correct information," said a civic official, requesting anonymity.

Municipal commissioner and principal census officer Swadheen Kshatriya and additional municipal commissioner and additional principal census officer Manisha Mhaiskar briefed the governor about the census process.

Sankaranarayanan advised the census officials to explain the importance of census counting to people, especially to those in rural areas, so that they would voluntarily provide necessary information. The officials also visited the official residences of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Civic officials also visited Matoshree, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s residence in Bandra, to gather information about the Thackeray family.

Civic officials also went to the residences of Chief Secretary J.P. Dange, Mayor Shraddha Jadhav and Deputy Mayor Shailaja Girkar.

Starting Saturday, 31,797 enumerators will go door to door to collect data till June 15.

Each enumerator will follow 150 households in 45 days.

Foreigners and those from other parts of the country, but have been living in Mumbai for more than six months will be part of the census programme. “They will be issued unique identification cards. Even foreigners will get a card, but it will be different,” said Kshatriya.