November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen. The national Census is being conducted from November 11 through 25.    
The CBS has already trained 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents for the census. Coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level to cover social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure and other issues.    
According to the CBS, 80 questionnaires including 25 for the purpose of listing houses and households and 55 main questionnaires as well as the 'community questionnaires' will be used for the National Census 2021. The community questionnaires are being used for the first time.    
The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. CBS stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses for the census. The census would be taken at an individual's place of residence where that individual frequently resides.    
CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc.    
The CBS is under the National Planning Commission. Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging. He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law.     
Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said the CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census.    
This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS. This census will prepare the disaggregated statistics on the basis of the sustainable development goals, prosperity and good governance.    
The constitution has the provision which states that statistics available from the national census should be linked to development planning.    
The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc.    
The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion.    
CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country.    
Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.    
The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser. -- RSS