Only teachers, LHWs to be trained as enumerators for Census

Population Census Organisation, Sindh has decided to train only government teachers and Lady Health Workers (LHWs) as enumerators to conduct second phase of Census which is scheduled to be held from September 12 to September 27, 2011, official sources told Business Recorder on Saturday.
More than 20 thousand enumerators from Education, Revenue, Local Government and other departments had taken part in the first phase of the census, house-counting process, which held in April 2011. While, there was no lady enumerator during house-counting, which created many problems particularly in rural areas of Sindh. Many political parties and groups had raised objections over the selection of enumerators from different departments and they were of the view that only teachers and other staff of Education department should have been selected for the purpose.
In this connection, Sindh Census Commissioner Noor Mohammad Laghari had held meeting with in-charge Secretary Education Wasim Ursani at his office a few days ago. Laghari informed Secretary Education about the decision taken by Population Census Organisation, Sindh regarding selection of enumerators from Education department.
The meeting also discussed the required number of enumerators and number of teachers and other staff of Education department and their availability during Census, the sources added. It was also decided that another meeting would be held very soon to finalise the issue of enumerators.
Sindh Census Commissioner Noor Mohammad Laghari told Business Recorder that there were many objections over the selection of enumerators from different quarters and political circles, so it has been decided that only the staff of Education department and LHWs would be trained as enumerators for Census. He said that the second phase would be more difficult than the first phase of house counting so that the number of blocks and enumerators would be increased.