A strange incident has come to light in Dehradun amidst the preparations for Census 2027. The 35 teachers deployed on duty neither attended the training nor went to the areas where they were supposed to count the houses. Some deliberately entered wrong mobile numbers to avoid duty and some simply switched off their phones. Now the Municipal Corporation has filed a complaint against all of them in the city police station and is preparing to file a case.
The picture that has emerged is quite shocking. Many teachers, at the time of registration, entered numbers which were not actually theirs. Many of those who gave correct numbers stopped picking up the phone. The result was that despite repeated attempts, they could not be contacted during the training session. This turning away from responsibility is going to cost the department heavily as other employees will have to be appointed in their place.
Negligence in duty can lead to jail along with fine
Taking this seriously, Municipal Corporation charge officer Ramesh Singh Rawat has submitted a complaint to the police under the Census Act 1948. Under this law, there is a provision of imprisonment up to three years along with fine for negligence in duty.
Why is this problem only in Dehradun?
Eva Ashish Srivastava, Director of Directorate of Census Operations, Uttarakhand, clarified that this problem is not facing the entire state but only in Dehradun Municipal Corporation area. At present no such case has been reported in other districts. He also said that official information about the disappearance of 35 employees has not reached him because this responsibility lies with the Principal Charge Officer. However, he admitted the problem of absence in training.
There is no problem with the app, Chinese apps can become a hindrance!
Some teachers tried to excuse themselves by citing technical problems in the census portal, but the director rejected it outright and said, “There is no major fault in the app.” Yes, if any Chinese app is installed in the phone then it can definitely hinder the working of the census app. In such a situation, employees have been instructed to remove suspicious apps.
No need for internet all the time
Internet is not required all the time for field work. Once the app is downloaded, data can be fed even in areas without network. This data will be saved offline for two to three days and will automatically sync as soon as the network is available.
Honorarium of Rs 25,000 will be given
This time the government has not given any separate device to the census workers. Employees will have to work from their smartphones only. The government argues that this will stop e-waste and wastage of government money. In return, a total honorarium of Rs 25,000 including internet and duty expenses will be given. Rs 9,000 in the first phase and Rs 16,000 in the second phase.
Work has started on the ground
According to the director, census work is going on in the field. Perspective maps are being made and door-to-door survey has also started. Under the ‘Har Dwar, Dastak’ campaign, enumerators are going door-to-door and preparing the list of houses. Complete information of every family is being recorded in the mobile app through about 33-34 questions including electricity, water, toilet etc. A review of the pace of work on the portal will also begin from this week so that it can be known where the work is slow. The first phase in Uttarakhand will run from 25 April to 24 May 2026.
Counting will happen first in hilly districts
The actual population census will take place in the second phase. In snowy districts like Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi, this work will be completed only in September 2026 because it becomes almost impossible to reach there in winter. The main population census in the remaining districts will be held in February 2027.
At present, a complaint has been filed against 35 teachers and it is considered certain that a case will be registered. If they are proved guilty in the investigation, they can face jail along with fine. This case is also a strong message for the other employees who are thinking of taking government duty lightly.