State govt. to use biometric, Aadhar in forthcoming census
Nagaland chief minister Rio announced that the government would implement biometric systems and Aadhaar linkages to eliminate multiple entries during the forthcoming census operations in the state. He warned that those attempting to manipulate data would face legal consequences.
Rio characterized the 2001 census as “abnormal,” noting that while India’s national population growth hovered around 20%, Nagaland reported a staggering 64.58% increase. He pointed out that certain districts even recorded growth rates exceeding 100%, a figure he argued, was statistically impossible.
Rio said the state requested another exercise to verify the data, but the Census Office did not allow such a practice. The chief minister maintained that census figures over the years were not accurate and for which he had repeatedly raised the issue.
The matter was discussed in the house Tuesday when NPP legislator Nuklutoshi expressed concern over the upgradation of government schools without adequate enrolment. Responding to the member, leader of the house and Chief Minister Dr.Neiphiu Rio provided a detailed critique of the state’s demographic records spanning several decades.
Dr. Rio raised serious alarms regarding the historical inaccuracy of census data in the state and its detrimental impact on state planning and educational infrastructure.
To ensure future accuracy, a full-day consultative meeting will be convened involving legislators and the Chief Electoral Office, with the Chief Minister urging MLAs to engage district planning boards, churches, and community leaders.
Rio pointed out that there was no proper census in the state in 1961 as it coincided with the peak period of insurgency and many people were unwilling to register their names. In 1971, he said the census coverage was slightly over 40%, while in 1981 and 1991 it was just above 50%.
However, referring to the 2001 census, Rio said that while India recorded an overall population growth rate of around 20%, Nagaland reported a growth rate of 64.58%, which he described as abnormal. In some districts the growth rate exceeded 100%, while in others it ranged between 80% and 90%, resulting in an overall growth of 64.58%.
With the support of civil society organisations and churches, Rio said the 2011 census recorded a negative decadal population growth rate of -0.58% between 2001 and 2011, with the population decreasing by less than 11,800. He said this was a historic development as both the growth rate and decadal growth rate turned negative.
The chief minister underscored that these skewed figures led to a “serious concern” in the education sector. He said the then Ministry of Human Resource Development which relied on inflated 2001 data, issued mandates under the Right To Education (RTE) Act that saw schools established and upgraded without proportional need.
This resulted in a surplus of teachers and institutions with single-digit or zero student enrollment. Consequently, the state cabinet has begun the rigorous process of clubbing schools and redeploying staff to address these inefficiencies.
He said the Education Department, with the support of the entire cabinet, had been holding repeated meetings, forming committees and scrutinising schools with no students, single-digit enrolment and cases where the number of teachers exceeded students. As a result, the government had begun clubbing schools together and redeploying teachers.
Addressing administrative reforms, Rio admitted that Nagaland has become “overly administrated” due to political compulsions and constant demands for new districts and backward status. He confirmed that a committee has been constituted to review reservation policies and administrative criteria to ensure that governance remains sustainable and that justice is served to truly underprivileged groups within the state.
Rio also cautioned that increasing demands for new districts and backward status must adhere to strict criteria to avoid administrative collapse. He noted that while political compulsions have led to an “over-administered” state, governance requires sustainable limits.
Earlier, Nuklutoshi said government schools, despite having highly qualified teachers, often remained without students. He therefore called for a thorough assessment of both government and private schools and suggested that, with the support of village councils and communities, some government schools with no students should be merged while others with no enrolment might need to be closed. On the reservation policy, he also pointed out that even in districts considered relatively privileged, there were underprivileged groups whose concerns required attention.