Mukti Rijal

National census is conducted every 10 years in Nepal to count population, calculate and ascertain demographic size, composition and diversity. According to the news report, the decennial census is being taken during these months, and it is due to complete by the end of this year. This is the first census that is being taken following the adoption of the federal polity in the country.
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is responsible for conducting national census. According to the CBS, 77 districts have been divided into 80 categories and altogether 39,000 enumerators have been deployed to count population while eight thousand supervisors have been mobilised to monitor and guide the work of the enumerators. The district coordination committees have been formed under the coordination chief district officers and the census is being conducted at the overall coordination and superintendence of CDOs at the local level. 

New design
The population data in Nepal this time will have to be collected in new design and format to express demographic distribution in spatial terms to conform to the federal structure of the country. The national census will collect and record the updated information and data regarding the distribution of population and composition according to the province, district and municipality/rural municipality. Once completed and processed, the census data will take due account of the population growth pattern, socio-cultural attributes and occupational diversity in line with geographic distribution both in aggregate and disaggregate numbers.

The relevant literatures inform that the word ‘census’ is derived from Latin and according to the historic accounts, it used to be conducted during the time of Roman Kings, especially to count and record the list of the population to keep track of all adult males fit to be recruited for military service. However, today censuses collect data on many attributes of a population, not just their bare count and number. Census that had begun as the method of collecting national demographic data has now become a part of a larger system of different surveys, studies and enquiries conducted on the basis of internationally accepted standards and norms. The United Nations has also defined census as enumeration of the population with multi-variant attributes within a defined territory marked by simultaneity and periodicity.

The UN recommendations also cover census topics to be collected, their official definitions, classifications and other useful information to count and collect. The UN also recommends that population censuses be taken at least every 10 years, and nation states, including Nepal, more or less follow this recommendation to collect and update their demographic size, characteristics and features. Although demographic estimates remain an important function of census to show geographic distribution of the population together with occupational affiliation, it is also collected and produced indicating combinations of different attributes namely education by age and sex based on spatial units and structures.

The importance of modern census data lies in the fact that they are commonly used for research, business marketing and development planning. They provide a baseline in designing a reliable basis of surveys and in depth analysis through systematic selection of samples as representative of a total universe of population. The importance and sensitivity of national census in Nepal has increased as the population size and identities have their meaning and implications in political, social and economic participation and representation in public entities and institutions. The commitment enshrined in federal constitution to enhance representation of the communities in the state institutions in proportion to their size has lent an impetus to the value and prominence of the national census.

Each community in Nepal is aware that the census should count and reflect their number, size, identity and other relevant attributes. Campaigns and mobilisation have also been undertaken to educate the communities to take part in the census enumeration and provide and share one's own actual information to the enumerators when they visit their doorsteps.
However, according to the CBS, Nepal's ongoing national census is conducted using samples selected systematically from the universe of population. The methodology can yield rough population estimates and approximated data details whose veracity and coverage can be contested again. The census data taking has always been a centralised operation in Nepal with a view to cover the Nepal wide universe of the population. But it makes it impossible to ensure that the enumerators deployed from Kathmandu carry out their tasks efficiently and effectively as entrusted to them.
Census exercise
The difficult geographical terrain and unfamiliar socio-cultural context makes it almost impossible for the enumerators to reach out to the nook and corner and complete their assignment in an impeccable manner. It is time for Nepal to devise new decentralised approach for conducting census exercise which not only can save resources but also be carried out in an effective and efficient manner. The decentralised approach will be in line with the federal organisation of the state placing responsibility of the management of census undertaking upon the local governments.
Needless to say, the Local Government Operation Act, 2017 requires the local municipalities - to record, document and update local demographic database in using for local planning and development. Enjoining the assignment for census data collections and management to local governments can contribute to document accurate data and information with little resources and efforts though an engagement of local human resources. Updating data from time to time will be easily executed if the census exercise is undertaken through involvement of local municipalities. Although closer support for standard setting and supervision of the CBS will be necessary, actual execution of data collection and management if devolved upon local municipalities will make the task easier.

(The author is presently associated with Policy Research Institute (PRI) as a senior research fellow. rijalmukti@gmail.com)