Govt mulls adopting alternative methods to conduct census in Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura

KATHMANDU, Sept 30: Discussions are currently underway to adopt an alternative method to collect data in Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in the census being held for the first time after federal structure was embraced in the country.

Dhundiraj Lamichhane, Director at Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), said that alternative methods of conducting census in those areas were discussed with the concerned government bodies some five days ago.

“The government of Nepal issued a new map covering the areas including Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulek. However, those areas are occupied by Indian troops and we are not in position to go there,” said Director Lamichhane. “But we must count our citizens.”

According to him, there was a discussion among senior officials belonging to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Survey and Central Bureau of Statistics on how and what alternative methods could be adopted to conduct a census in those areas.

Secretary at the Central Department of Statistics Kewal Prasad Bhandari said that the census of the people living in those areas will be compiled by the CBS in the census that will be conducted from November 11 to December 25.

With the participation of senior journalist Bhairav Risa, a census in that area was conducted only once in the year 1961. No data has been collected from that area even though there are Nepali citizens in the subsequent census held in the gap of 10 years.

According to Secretary Bhandari, out of the total 39,000 enumerators required for the census, 150,000 Nepali citizens who had passed 12 have applied."We have shortlisted 30 percent more enumerators than necessary,” he said. A letter has been written to the Ministry of Health to vaccinate the selected enumerators against COVID-19.