Odisha Issues SOP to Ensure Safety of Census Staff Amid Field Challenges

Bhubaneswar: Responding to concerns over the safety of field personnel, the Odisha government has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to safeguard census functionaries engaged in the ongoing first phase of the Census 2027 exercise.

In an official communication, Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department directed all district collectors, municipal commissioners, and superintendents of police to strictly implement the guidelines during the houselisting and housing census phase being conducted from April 16 to May 15.

The directive comes in the wake of reports of untoward incidents during field visits, where enumerators are collecting data on housing conditions, amenities, and household assets across the state.

As per the SOP, all enumerators and supervisors must carry valid identification and appointment letters during duty. They have also been advised to avoid working between 11 am and 3 pm due to extreme heat conditions and to take precautions against heat-related illnesses, including carrying ORS.

To enhance safety, officials have been asked to operate in pairs in vulnerable areas, with supervisors monitoring field activities on an hourly basis. In case of any hostility or threat, personnel have been instructed to immediately withdraw from the situation and report the matter to higher authorities without engaging in confrontation.

The guidelines also stress close coordination with local police. Police stations will be provided with details of census staff, and in sensitive areas, personnel may be deployed to accompany enumerators. Emergency contact access has also been ensured for field teams.

Additionally, the SOP highlights the importance of community engagement, urging census teams to coordinate with local leaders before commencing work in any locality to build trust and cooperation.

The government has warned that any obstruction to census duties will attract strict action under the Census Act 1948, which includes provisions for fines and imprisonment of up to three years.