Odisha Government Suspends Census Field Work During Peak Heat Hours
The Odisha government has announced the suspension of all Census-related field activities during the hottest hours of the day, from 11 am to 3 pm, as temperatures soar above 40° Celsius across multiple regions of the state. This decisive action comes in direct response to alarming reports of Census officials suffering from heat-related illnesses while performing their duties during the ongoing heatwave conditions.
Safety Concerns Extend Beyond Weather to Physical Assaults
Beyond addressing the meteorological challenges, the state administration has issued explicit directives to district collectors to guarantee the physical security of enumerators against potential attacks and harassment. This heightened focus on safety follows a disturbing incident in Kamakhyanagar, Dhenkanal district, where four Census officials were assaulted during their field work.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed that the government has received multiple reports of enumerators facing harassment during their essential door-to-door visits. "The revenue department has taken a serious note of all such problems being faced by Census officials. Discussions have been held with the home department on the safety of these officials," Minister Pujari stated.
Detailed Account of Kamakhyanagar Assault Incident
The specific assault occurred earlier on Wednesday at Anantapur Colony in Kamakhyanagar. The victims included two female teachers, Madhusmita Behera and Swarnalata Sahoo, along with two notified area council officials, Raghunath Dixit and Satyan Behera. They were allegedly attacked by Nikunja Satpathy and his two sons.
According to Madhusmita Behera's account, the family had previously refused to provide any data when Swarnalata visited their residence on Tuesday. "On Wednesday, I decided to accompany her and get the details because we cannot proceed to the next house without completing the task. However, after reaching there, the owner of the house, Nikunja Satpathy, and his two sons slapped us on the ground that we had barged into their house without permission," Madhusmita recounted.
When colleagues Raghunath and Satyan rushed to the scene after being informed, they too were assaulted and chased away with sticks and stones by the aggressive family members. The assailants also vandalized the officials' two-wheelers during the altercation.
Immediate Administrative Response and Arrests
Following the intervention of Sub-Collector Dinamani Naik, Kamakhyanagar police promptly arrested the accused individuals. This swift law enforcement action underscores the administration's commitment to protecting government personnel engaged in critical national data collection efforts.
Comprehensive Safety Advisory Issued to District Authorities
In a parallel development, Revenue and Disaster Management Department Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee has issued a comprehensive advisory to all district collectors and municipal commissioners. The directive mandates:
- Implementation of measures to mitigate heat-related health risks for enumerators
- Identification of potentially hazardous areas during data collection activities
- Establishment of continuous monitoring and tracking systems for all field personnel throughout the Census exercise
Scale and Timeline of the Ongoing Census Operation
The first phase of this extensive Census exercise commenced on April 16 and is scheduled to continue until May 15. During this period, enumerators are conducting door-to-door surveys to gather vital information on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets owned by families across Odisha.
Director of Census Operations Nikhil Pavan Kalyan revealed the massive scale of the undertaking, noting that the exercise involves more than one lakh personnel, many of whom are teachers. The data collection aims to cover approximately 1.2 crore households across all districts of the state.
The government's dual-pronged approach—addressing both environmental hazards and physical security threats—demonstrates a proactive stance in safeguarding the welfare of personnel engaged in this crucial national statistical endeavor during challenging conditions.
