Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A live-in couple staying in a household in a “stable union” shall be treated as a married couple in Census 2027.In an FAQ reply listed on the census self-enumeration portal – to whether a couple in a live-in relationship will be considered a married couple during self-enumeration or the enumerator’s visit to the household – the authorities state: “If they (the couple) consider their relationship as a stable union, they should be treated as a married couple”.Though a clarification on the issue has been publicly offered the first time, possibly as respondents will be self-enumerating, an official involved in previous census exercises said unmarried couples living together and declaring themselves as “married” to the enumerator were recorded as such even in the past.The number of married couples living in a household is among 33 questions in the houselisting operations phase of the census, spread over a 45-day period.The houselisting operations phase of census will be between April 1 and Sept 30, as separately notified by each state or Union territory. The initial 15 days of this 45-day window will be for self-enumeration, followed by a 30-day enumeration period.Census does not require respondents to back their answers, which must be best to their knowledge and belief, with any documentary proof. The rules require enumerators to record information as declared by the respondent.Self-enumeration (SE), which starts in NDMC area of Delhi on April 1, allows respondents to fill in information regarding themselves via a dedicated web portal. The self-enumeration facility is available in English and 15 Indian languages.Self-enumeration may be done by the head of the household – one who manages household affairs and makes important decisions, and not necessarily the eldest male member – or any responsible adult member after completing OTP-based mobile verification. Details of all normally residing members of the household may be provided using the single household access.A key requirement of SE is marking the location of one’s house/residence correctly. For this, respondents must select the district name from the dropdown menu and enter PIN code, before entering information regarding their village, locality, street or nearby landmark. Clicking a search option will load the geotagging-based map of the area; the respondent must zoom in till individual houses are visible and place the marker exactly on their house, ensuring the correct side of the road and landmarks match. “Incorrect placement of marker may lead to non-availability of the household data in the enumerators’ app,” it is suggested in the FAQs.After entering data relating to housing conditions and amenities, the filled-in form may be submitted. Forms can be filled in parts over the 15-day SE period, with the option to save progress as a draft. An SE ID will be generated and must be shared with the enumerator when they visit, allowing them to verify and upload the data after adding the building number, census house number and use of census house.SE will take no more than 15-20 minutes, census officials said, and there will be tips to guide the respondent on selecting the right options from the dropdown menu. Once the SE form is submitted or the SE period is over, changes can be made only by the enumerator.The self-enumeration portal can be accessed only within the geographical boundaries of India. All data will be encrypted and stored in secure govt servers.
