In a significant step towards modernising data collection, the Directorate of Census Operations, Odisha, is set to roll out the first phase of the House Listing and Housing Census across all 30 districts of the state starting April 16, 2026.
This marks India’s inaugural fully digital Census, introducing a convenient self-enumeration option for citizens for the first time.
The self-enumeration phase, which began on April 1, will remain open until midnight on April 15. Through the official portal (se.census.gov.in), residents can conveniently provide their household information online from the comfort of their homes.
Encouragingly, over 1.76 lakh families in Odisha have already submitted their details via the portal, demonstrating a strong public response to this citizen-friendly initiative.
From April 16 to May 15, trained enumerators and supervisors will conduct door-to-door visits to complete the House Listing Operations. Primary school teachers from the School and Mass Education Department have been appointed as enumerators, while high school teachers will serve as supervisors. They will use a dedicated mobile app to collect accurate housing and household data.
District Collectors and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations will act as Principal Census Officers, with Additional District Collectors serving as District Census Officers. Tahsildars and Executive Officers of statutory towns will function as Charge Officers. The Revenue and Disaster Management Department is the nodal agency coordinating the exercise.
On the occasion of the formal launch, the Directorate unveiled a special song dedicated to the Census, aiming to boost public awareness and participation.
Director of Census Operations, Odisha, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, emphasised that self-enumeration data will be re-verified by enumerators during field visits to ensure accuracy. The use of digital tools, including the CMMS Portal for creating house listing blocks, represents a major technological leap for the national Census exercise.
The public is strongly urged to use the self-enumeration option before the April 15 deadline to streamline the process and make it more efficient. For any queries or assistance regarding the Census and House Listing Operations, citizens can contact the Census Directorate, Odisha, at the toll-free number 1855.
This landmark initiative will lay the foundation for the upcoming population enumeration phase and provide crucial data for planning development, resource allocation, and policy-making across the state and nation. Your participation counts—literally!
