Data is required for any state or even small organisation to handle any type of situation more efficiently, make informed decisions, address challenges both anticipated and unforeseen, and set targets. The more accurate the data is, higher the chances of achieving the goal. Governments across the world rely heavily on census and data provided by various organisations in framing policies and managing public affairs as well as implementation of schemes and welfare programmes. This is why most countries across the world make sure that census on population is carried out periodically without fail. Unfortunately, India has missed its decadal population census 2021. It was postponed citing the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is understandable as the massive exercise requires door-to-door visits to collect data, it is also a fact that assembly elections were held in several states during the pandemic peak days and many countries including the US and China carried out the exercise during this period. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had allocated funds for the census in the Union Budget but the delay continues. Experts are of the opinion that this delay could have a huge impact on the implementation of government schemes, and deprive welfare programmes to millions of deserving people due to dependence on unreliable estimates and old data collected more than a decade ago. Considering the importance of making comparable information available to policy makers and various units responsible for implementation of welfare measures that will improve the quality of people’s lives, the Centre should initiate census process at the earliest. This will help the government in executing its various programmes more effectively and efficiently.
As for Nagaland, the last few population censuses will leave anybody in bewilderment. As per the census 1991, Nagaland’s population was 1,209,546 (56.08% increase from previous census), and then it shot up to 1,990,036 in 2001 census, which was an increase of 64.53%. However, the population growth rate dropped by -0.58% in census 2011 with a population of 1,978,502 (about 19.79 lakh). What could be the reason for this sharp increase and decrease in the population growth rate? Is it because of faulty survey or failure to collect accurate data? Or is it because of deliberate data manipulation by the respondents? What do these sharp fluctuations tell of the state? It certainly doesn’t portray a good image about the state. If it wasn’t because of faulty survey or the inability to reach out to people in remote villages, other possible reasons could be manipulation of data through multiple entries by individuals in urban and rural areas for availing benefits from government schemes or for vote bank. But to enable the Central and state governments, as well as NGOs to reach out to target audience, ensure schemes to reach the right people and curb misuse of welfare programmes, providing accurate data is vital. Will the people of the state provide correct information about themselves when the survey for the next census is carried out? The answer should be positive.