Mizoram Launches Housing Census 2027, Including Refugees

Mizoram Initiates Housing Census 2027

Aizawl, April 17: On Wednesday, Mizoram commenced the Houselisting and Housing Census as part of the Census of India 2027. The initiative was inaugurated by Governor General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh (retd) at Lok Bhavan. Officials confirmed that the census will include refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Manipur.

Officials emphasized that this inclusion aligns with the Census mandate to account for all individuals residing in the country at a specific time, regardless of their citizenship status. “This is an effort to count everyone currently living in the country. It is not linked to citizenship. Enumeration will also take place in relief camps,” stated representatives from the Directorate of Census Operations and the General Administration Department (GAD).

Current estimates indicate that Mizoram is hosting approximately 30,000 refugees from Myanmar, over 2,000 from Bangladesh, and more than 7,000 IDPs from Manipur, who have fled due to ethnic and political turmoil in their home state. Authorities noted that including these individuals is essential as they utilize public services such as water and electricity alongside local residents.

This announcement coincided with the official launch of the first phase of Census 2027 in the state, marking Mizoram's participation in the nationwide houselisting exercise, a vital step before the population enumeration set for February next year.

During the launch, the Governor urged enumerators to be thorough and inclusive, ensuring that every household is accounted for. He also highlighted the importance of effectively communicating the process to residents who might struggle with the digital format.

Describing Census 2027 as India's first fully digital census, he expressed optimism about the successful execution of the initiative and encouraged the public to fully support the field staff.

In a symbolic gesture, H Lalremruati, the designated Enumerator for Lok Bhavan, completed the data entry using the self-enumeration ID generated from the Governor’s own self-enumeration conducted on April 7, thereby officially concluding his houselisting process.

Notable officials present at the launch included Municipal Commissioner and Principal Census Officer Joseph H Lalramsanga, Additional Secretary of GAD, and Additional State Nodal Officer Irene Zohlimpuii Chongthu.

The Census 2027 will unfold in two phases. The first phase, which began on April 1, involves Houselisting and Housing Census, with a self-enumeration window that closed on April 15. Field-level enumeration for this phase will run from April 16 to May 15. The second phase, focusing on Population Enumeration, is slated for February 2027.

Officials reported that over 10,400 individuals registered during the self-enumeration exercise, which concluded on Thursday. Following the Governor’s enumeration, Chief Minister Lalduhoma was enumerated at his office at 1 pm after completing his self-enumeration earlier this month. Home Minister K Sapdanga and PWD Minister Vanlalhlana were also enumerated at their homes in the presence of officials from GAD, Aizawl Municipal Corporation, and the Directorate of Census Operations.

Authorities reiterated their request for residents throughout the state to assist enumerators during house-to-house visits and provide accurate information, emphasizing that comprehensive and reliable data is crucial for governance, planning, and public service delivery.