Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Interference in census work hampers quality of data: CBS

Kathmandu, Nov. 16

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said on Tuesday that its attention was drawn to the written statements issued by some individuals and organisations to influence people regarding their response to the ongoing 12th Census.

"The CBS had conducted multiple discussions with stakeholders from ethnic, language, religious and gender groups and people living with disability, as well as experts," it said, adding that international practices were applied while formulating the questionnaire.

According to a statement it issued, CBS is an independent body of the nation with the responsibility to collect, process, publish, distribute and store statistics. It does not work for and against any stakeholders other than the nation.

About 40,000 enumerators and 8,500 supervisors are mobilised across the country for the census in which share of male and female is 50:50. "We have given priority to local people as far as available while selecting the enumerators and supervisors. All of them are well-trained regarding the activities and requirements of the census and we are confident that they will conduct the job impartially," read the statement.

The census was launched on 11 November and will run till 25 November.  

Responding to the criticism that some enumerators were not competent enough to collect required data for the census, CBS said that data collection will be done on the basis of the census book prepared with detailed interpretation of the concept, definition and methodology applied in it. The enumerators and supervisors are directed to strictly follow the rules, said the CBS.

The statistical body also stated that it was continuously giving directives to the enumerators in case of any weakness or criticism.

Motivating people to respond to the questions as per some individuals or institutions interest will lead to misleading data collection and such data will not have the quality, said CBS.

It made a request to all the concerned not to influence the field survey, demoralise the staff mobilised in the field and create any safety risk to them through any activity and opinion.

According to it, people can call on toll-free CBS number 1178 for any queries or confusion.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 November 2021.    

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