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Nepal's first post-conflict census begins
Amid uncertainty about completion of the country's peace process and drafting of a new constitution, Nepal began its 11th national census today. Utpal Parashar reports.
Amid uncertainty about completion of the country's peace process and drafting of a new constitution, Nepal began its 11th national census on Friday.
President Ram Baran Yadav kick-started the process by enumerating details about his family at his official residence, Sheetal Niwas. Nepal completes a century of census taking this year.
The first such process after end of the decade long civil war in 2006, the census is expected to provide useful insight into impact of the conflict on the country’s population.
It would try and gauge the magnitude and nature of displacement of population due to the war and also in the form of labour work (both within the country and abroad).
The results are expected to provide essential database for major socio-political transformations proposed by the post-conflict transitional government for sustainable peace building.
“This time around we have included several new questions to be asked and used better methods to ensure more coverage and better data collection,” said Uttam Narayan Malla, DG, Central Bureau of Statistics.
In a first for the country, a household listing conducted two weeks ahead of the census listed third-gendered members of the population in a separate category.
The largest and most significant statistical activity undertaken in the country every 10 years would help the government and developmental partners plan programmes and projects in a better manner.
The 11 day process conducted by CBS would witness 34,000 enumerators and 8500 supervisors taking part. It has projected an estimated population of 28.5 million—an increase of 5.4 million since the last census in 2001.
The household listing survey showed that population is increasing at a fast pace in the Terai districts, Kathmandu Valley and Kaski region.
“We noticed that the number of members per family, which was 5.6 during the last census is expected to decline sharply this time due to social changes and living patterns,” said Malla.
