Enumeration Under Extreme Heat Conditions
The statewide census drive that began on the 16th is underway across Odisha, with enumerators going door-to-door for house listing and mapping. Despite severe heatwave conditions, officials are continuing fieldwork, writing house numbers and collecting data.

Deaths and Health Issues Raise Alarm
Concerns have intensified after reports of deaths among census workers. Two enumerators from Baripada and Sundargarh have reportedly died, while a suspected heatstroke death has been reported in Sonepur. Several other workers have fallen ill during duty, highlighting the harsh working conditions.

Attack on Census Workers in Kamakhyanagar
In a shocking incident, four census workers were allegedly attacked in Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district. The incident occurred in Mahimanagar Sahi under Ward No. 3. Two of the injured are women employees. Local administrative and police officials reached the spot, detained the accused, and launched an investigation.

Government Plans SOP for Safety
Following these incidents, the state government has decided to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the safety of census staff. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the 2026 census is a high-tech exercise but acknowledged the challenges posed by extreme weather and field conditions.

Work Suspended During Peak Heat Hours
To reduce health risks, census work will remain suspended between 11 AM and 3 PM. District collectors have been directed to monitor the situation closely and ensure safety measures for field staff.

Focus on Safety and Education
The government is also coordinating with the Home Department to enhance security. As many teachers are involved in census duty, steps are being taken to ensure that academic activities are not affected.

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High-Level Meeting on Census Challenges
In view of rising challenges during the ongoing census exercise, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari held a review meeting with the Revenue Secretary and Census officials. The discussion focused on difficulties faced by field staff and measures to ensure their safety and efficiency.

No Census Work During Peak Heat Hours
Considering the severe heatwave conditions, the government has directed that no census activities will be carried out between 11 AM and 3 PM. District Collectors have been instructed to suspend enumeration work during these hours to protect officials from extreme temperatures.

Safety Measures and Monitoring
District Collectors have been asked to closely monitor the basic needs of census staff deployed in the field. The state government has also coordinated with the Home Department to ensure adequate security arrangements for enumerators, safeguarding them from both criminal threats and heat-related risks.

Teachers’ Duties Not to Be Affected
A large number of teachers are engaged in census work. Authorities have emphasized that school education and mid-day meal services should not be disrupted due to their involvement in enumeration duties.

Massive Workforce Engaged in Census
The census operation involves over one lakh personnel, including 312 charge officers. A significant portion of the workforce consists of teachers assigned to carry out house-to-house data collection.

Rising Incidents Raise Concern
The ongoing census has seen several concerning incidents. Reports of individuals impersonating census officials to carry out thefts have surfaced. Additionally, extreme heat conditions have made fieldwork increasingly difficult for enumerators.

Recent Tragic Incidents Reported
The government has taken serious note of recent incidents affecting census workers. In Subarnapur, a census worker reportedly died of a heart attack after returning from duty, with authorities seeking a detailed report.

In Mayurbhanj, a woman enumerator has been reported missing. Meanwhile, Balasore has recorded three cases related to accidents and heatstroke, while Rourkela reported one accident involving census personnel.

Government Issues Urgent Guidelines
Following these developments, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department has issued urgent instructions to all District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to ensure safety protocols are strictly followed.

Census Timeline
The first phase of the census, including houselisting and housing census, began on April 16 and will continue until May 15. Authorities remain on alert to address emerging challenges and ensure the smooth and safe completion of the exercise.

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