Field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) have officially begun in several Indian states and Union Territories as part of Phase 1 of Census 2027. The initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs, marks a transition from digital self-reporting to direct house-to-house data collection in specific regions.
Houselisting Operations Commence
Operations started yesterday in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. This phase follows the completion of a notified 15-day Self-Enumeration period in these areas.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, trained Enumerators will conduct house-to-house visits to collect data. This specific exercise is scheduled to continue until the 30th of this month.
New Phase of Self-Enumeration
Even as some regions have moved to field visits, the Self-Enumeration facility commenced yesterday in other areas. These include the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.
The online portal will remain open for these regions until the 15th of this month. Following this window, house-to-house Houselisting Operations are scheduled to grab place between May 16th and June 14th.
Digital Milestone in Data Collection
The shift toward a digital approach has seen significant engagement. So far, around 82 lakh households have successfully used the official portal se.census.gov.in to avail of the facility.
Officials describe the response from the public as encouraging. The initiative is being recognized as a significant milestone in digitising Census operations, with users appreciating the flexibility and ease of participation.
As the process unfolds, the government may continue to rely on this hybrid model of digital and physical verification. This could potentially streamline how future census cycles are managed across diverse geographies.
Frequently Asked Questions
In which states have the HLO field operations already begun?
Field operations have commenced in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
When will the house-to-house operations take place in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Delhi?
In the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand, house-to-house Houselisting Operations will be conducted between May 16th and June 14th.
How many households have used the online self-enumeration portal so far?
Around 82 lakh households have successfully availed of the facility through the official portal.
Do you believe digital self-enumeration is a more effective way to gather national data than traditional house visits?
