Ghaziabad Administration Recruits Private School Teachers for Census 2027 Operations
In a significant move to address critical staffing shortages, the Ghaziabad district administration has formally engaged personnel from approximately 50 private schools to participate in the upcoming Census 2027 house listing exercise. This decision comes as existing government resources prove insufficient for the massive enumeration task ahead.
Addressing Manpower Gaps Through Private Sector Collaboration
Currently, the district has designated around 9,445 staff members to conduct enumeration across its 7,848 blocks. Each enumerator is expected to cover between 150 to 180 households during the operation. Despite earlier directives to 51 government departments to identify and deploy personnel, significant gaps in staffing compelled the administration to seek assistance from private educational institutions.
"We have conducted meetings with principals from over 50 schools, alongside the district inspector of schools, anticipating cooperation from private school teachers in supporting the district administration with house listing activities," explained Saurabh Bhatt, Additional District Magistrate (Finance/Revenue). "A state government order specifically authorizing district administrations to engage private school staff for this purpose has been issued. Each participating school has deputed approximately 10-15 teachers to assist with the administrative workload."
This approach mirrors strategies employed during the Census 2011 enumeration, where private school teachers were similarly recruited to bolster field operations.
Operational Timeline and Compensation Structure
The house listing and housing enumeration phase is scheduled to occur between May 22 and June 20. Enumerators participating in this critical national exercise will receive an honorarium of Rs 25,000 upon successful completion of their assigned duties.
The administration has established strict participation requirements:
- Mandatory attendance at all training sessions, meetings, and related census activities
- Training conducted in organized batches of 50 participants
- Warning notices already issued to approximately 100 enumerators who skipped a Sunday training session
Officials have cautioned that repeated absences constitute negligence under the Census Act and may result in withheld salaries and other disciplinary actions.
Administrative Directives and Accountability Measures
In a directive dated April 17, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar emphasized the time-bound and critical nature of the census's first phase. He instructed all department heads to relieve officers and employees assigned to census duty from their regular responsibilities, allowing them to focus exclusively on enumeration tasks.
The accountability framework extends beyond individual staff members, with department heads also facing responsibility if their assigned personnel fail to comply with census duties. The administrative structure supporting the operation includes:
- 16 charge officers
- 4 master trainers
- 134 field trainers
- Over 1,600 supervisors
Digital Options and Community Engagement Initiatives
Residents will have the opportunity to self-enumerate online between May 7 and May 21, providing a digital alternative to traditional door-to-door enumeration. Additionally, the district plans to launch an awareness campaign involving social organizations, including Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), industrial units, and trader communities in the coming weeks to ensure comprehensive participation.
This multi-pronged approach combining government resources, private sector collaboration, digital solutions, and community engagement represents Ghaziabad's comprehensive strategy to ensure the successful execution of Census 2027, despite initial staffing challenges.
