Bhubaneswar: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday indicated that the ongoing Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) phase 2027 Census in Odisha could be suspended temporarily if the current heatwave worsens.
This comes a day after the government issued urgent instructions to district authorities to ensure the safety of enumerators engaged in fieldwork, following several concerning incidents reported across the state, including the death of one enumerator and a woman schoolteacher going missing.
Speaking to the media, Pujari said that some enumerators have suffered health issues due to the blistering conditions. “Field workers are facing long hours of door-to-door visits in challenging conditions. Schools and colleges have been closed till April 23 and it could be extended further,” he said.
The Houselisting and Housing Census began on April 16 and is scheduled to continue until May 15. Enumerators are visiting households across the state to collect data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets possessed by families.
Pujari further stated that the government is also aware of attacks on enumerator teams. “A high-level review meeting with senior officials has been convened today. A subsequent round of consultations with field personnel directly involved in the Census 2027 house-listing exercise is also planned. If required, the census work can be temporarily suspended during heatwave to safeguard the well-being of staff,” he added.
Teachers, who form a significant part of the census workforce, grapple with dual responsibilities: shortened morning school duties followed by door-to-door enumeration often extending into peak heat hours. While schools are operating on early summer timings (6:30 AM to 10:30 AM), the added fieldwork has raised serious concerns.
Tragically, a 55-year-old junior teacher, Bansidhar Bhoi from Sunapali Primary School in Sonepur district’s Ulunda block, died on Sunday after allegedly suffering a heatstroke while on census duty. He reportedly fell ill after returning home from enumeration work and passed away at a local hospital. His family has attributed the death to prolonged exposure to the severe heat. A teacher was rescued from Balasore railway station on Tuesday after she went missing from Baripada allegedly due to stress associated with the census work.
Teacher associations, such as the Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA), have demanded uniform guidelines from the government and district collectors to mitigate risks, alongside better safety provisions during fieldwork amid reports of harassment in some areas.
On April 21, Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee, asked all Collectors-cum-Principal Census Officers and Municipal Commissioners-cum-Principal Census Officers to make necessary arrangements to address heat-related issues, identify potential dangers during field work, and regularly track enumerators.
The notification also highlighted several incidents, involving the enumerators, reported in the media in recent days. “You are requested to make necessary arrangements to address heat-related issues, identify danger aspects during collection of data for Census and track the enumerators on a regular basis for their safety and smooth data collection,” the letter stated.
It also directed that all enumerators be properly sensitised on safety precautions.
