Geo‑fencing limits self‑enumeration to residents physically present in snow‑bound areas; data cannot be filed from outside locations: Amit Sharma
Srinagar, Aug 16: The self‑enumeration of Phase‑II of Census 2027 will commence on Monday in the snow‑bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire Ladakh Union Territory, officials announced today.
Addressing a press conference in Leh, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Director Census Operations for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories, Amit Sharma, said the crucial phase of the census exercise will begin tomorrow, restricted specifically to snow‑bound regions of the Union Territories.
“Out of 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, 16 have been partially declared as snow‑bound areas. We will begin self‑enumeration in these areas from August 17 to August 31,” Sharma said.
He added that Ladakh is entirely snow‑bound and the self‑enumeration will cover the region in full.
Sharma clarified that the process in snow‑bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir will be restricted to residents physically present in those locations.
Explaining the geo‑fencing mechanism of Census 2027, Sharma said: “If a resident of Gurez is currently living in Srinagar or Jammu, he cannot access the census website to submit details from these capitals. He has to be present in Gurez to file the information because the application for self‑enumeration has geo‑reference restrictions.”
The IAS officer added that enumerators and supervisors will physically visit households from September 1 to September 30 to record population details. He further said that population enumeration in the rest of India, including the plains of Jammu and Kashmir, will be conducted later as per the national schedule in February 2027.
As per details available with KNO, self‑enumeration will be available to natives of 1,115 villages and three municipalities of Jammu and Kashmir falling under snow‑bound non‑synchronous areas.
The highest number of such villages/municipalities have been identified in Doda district (305), followed by Kishtwar (158), Baramulla (93), Kathua (48), Poonch (24), Kupwara (49), Budgam (5), Bandipora (28), Ganderbal (7), Pulwama (32), Shopian (32), Anantnag (55), Kulgam (66), Ramban (88), Udhampur (79), and Reasi (49).
The municipalities falling under snow‑bound non‑synchronous areas are Uri, Gulmarg, and Kishtwar—(KNO)
