“Census is essential in formulating programmes of development and its implementation,” said Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa.

Speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop on “Census data dissemination and its impact on development,” organised jointly by the Gandhian Studies Centre of Mangalore University and Directorate of Census Operations on Wednesday, he said Census is essential to assess the human index and development index of a country.

He said criteria and its definitions should be taken into consideration before undertaking census in a country.
The questionnaire should be prepared properly. If the person who is undertaking census gives wrong feed back, then the whole purpose of census will be meaningless.

Directorate of Census Operations Deputy Director G Bapuji said the Indian census is one of the world’s largest administrative exercises and the sole producer of the data on various demographic, social, economic and other characteristics of the Indian population.

He said the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881 and since then census have been undertaken uninterruptedly once in every ten years.

He said the dissemination of census data was made solely through printed publication upto 1991 Census. For the first time, the 1991 Census was made available through electronic format on floppies.

Mr Bapuji said Census data dissemination workshop has been organised periodically to senisitise and familiarise the data users fraternity about the latest results from census of India 2001 and the various modes of dissemination of census data adopted by the census organisation.
Mangalore University Librarian Dr Bhandi was present.