Census 2027 Preparations Underway in Gujarat with Focus on Teacher Involvement
As the nation prepares for the upcoming Census 2027, a significant planning meeting was recently convened by the census directorate in Ahmedabad. This gathering brought together representatives from various educational organizations to discuss and share their perspectives on the involvement of teachers in the census process. The meeting, held at the Census Office, marked a crucial step in the early stages of planning for this massive national exercise.
Educational Union Submits Detailed Recommendations
During the meeting, the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshanik Mahasangh presented a comprehensive set of 13 suggestions to both the state government and census authorities. These recommendations focus specifically on the role of teachers in census duties and aim to address long-standing concerns within the educational community.
Concerns Over Academic Disruption
The union expressed serious apprehension about assigning non-academic responsibilities, such as census work, to teachers. According to their submission, this practice adversely affects classroom teaching and overall education quality. The organization pointed out that teachers are frequently blamed for poor learning outcomes, while their regular deployment in non-teaching duties creates significant disruptions to academic work.
The union emphasized that teachers should be relieved from duties as booth-level officers and similar assignments. Instead, they proposed that educated unemployed youth be engaged for these roles, allowing educators to focus on their primary teaching responsibilities.
Key Demands from the Teachers' Union
The submitted recommendations include several important demands:
- An immediate end to the practice of issuing arrest warrants against teachers during national assignments
- Provision of comprehensive accident and life insurance coverage of Rs 2 crore for teachers engaged in census work
- Appointment of separate technical and tablet operators specifically for data entry tasks
- Compensatory leave for work performed during holidays
- Protection for women teachers, urging authorities not to assign them to remote or sensitive areas
- Exemption for sick and differently abled staff from census duties
Census 2027 Timeline in Gujarat
According to available information, the first phase of Census 2027 will be conducted in Gujarat between April and September this year. This initial phase will cover house listing and the housing census, setting the foundation for the complete census exercise.
The union's recommendations come at a critical time as preparations intensify for this important national undertaking. Their suggestions aim to balance the needs of the census with maintaining educational quality and protecting teacher welfare.
As planning continues for Census 2027, the dialogue between educational organizations and census authorities in Ahmedabad represents an important step toward addressing concerns that have persisted through previous census exercises. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact how teachers participate in national duties while maintaining their crucial educational roles.
