Use of Technology for Census Data
Analysis and dissemination with
special reference to the CensusInfo
Dashboard
V. Hekali Zhimomi,
Director, Census Operations, Nagaland
International Seminar on Population and Housing
Censuses: Beyond the 2010 Round in Seoul,
Republic of Korea - 27 to 29 November 2012
Indian Census…
• 1st complete Census conducted in 1881
• 2011 Census was the 15th Census which covered 1.2
Billion people
• 2011 Indian Census – biggest peacetime operation in
the history of mankind
• 2011 Census was held in two phases:
Houselisting & Housing Census(April to September 2010)
Population Enumeration (9th to 28th February 2011)
Some Facts about Census India 2011
Cost
Cost per person
No. of Census Functionaries
USD 445 Mn
USD 0.37
2.7 Mn
No. of Languages in which Schedules were
canvassed
16
No. of Languages in which Training Manuals
prepared
18
No. of Schedules Printed
340 Mn
No. of Training Manuals Printed
5.4 Mn
Paper Utilised
Material Transported
8,000 MTs
10,500 MTs
Data processing and Analysis
Data analysis & processing: a mammoth task in India…
Number of
Administrative Units in
Census 2011
States/UTs
35
Districts
640
Subdistricts
5,924
Towns
7,935
Villages
0.64 million
• 1.2 Billion People … More than a 6th / 17.5% of the worlds population
- More than 2000 ethnic groups
- All major religions of the world represented
- Only the continent of Africa exceeds the linguistic, genetic and cultural
diversity of the nation of India.
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Census 2011 Process
House to house
canvassing
Scanning
Data
Dissemination
Database/
Tabulation
Manual completion of
unrecognized characters
Image based
Recognition (ICR)
Image validation
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Data processing & Analysis
• India has always been in the forefront of using the latest
technologies.
• Census 2001: India was one of the first countries to use the image
based Automatic Form Processing Technology taking the help of
High Speed Duplex Scanners for image capturing.
• Census 2011: India has adopted more developed ICR Technology
with advanced features.
• Uses the unique TILE module which optimizes data accuracy with a
systemized display of characters grouped together to allow easy
identification.
Data processing & Analysis…
• ORGI creates two seperate databases, the Houselisting & Housing
Census Data (at Household level) and the Population Enumeration Data
(at individual member of the Household level)
• Attempts made to link these two databases to cross-tabulate
information e.g cross tabs on Condition of Housing with Economic
Condition, etc.
• Boundary of the Enumeration Areas (EA) have been kept unchanged
during the two phases of the Census operation and provision has been
made in the Household Questionnaire (Phase 2 Operation) to record the
Household Number marked in the Phase 1 Operation
• Although the ORGI has made an effort to generate and release time
series tables from previous census there are challenging issues as many
jurisdictional changes occur, new villages and towns are created. Hence
an attempt is underway to link the databases available since 1991
Census on jurisdictional changes upto Town and Village levels in the
country.
Beyond Census 2011…
•Provisional Population Totals for India and States
compiled and declared within four weeks.
manually
• Scanning of filled-in schedules completed
• Extensive quality check and data validation has been undertaken
at each stage of data processing and analyses, using the CS Pro
Software.
• Already published Tables on Houses, Household Amenities and
Assets.
• The task of data checking and validation has been made far
easier and quicker with the aid of technology
Census Data Processing-17
locations
Export/Archival
Exception
Completion
Tiling
Recognition
Scanning
Prepare Batch
DATA DISSEMINATION
“A census is not complete until the data is disseminated and used,”
Dr. C. Chandramouli
Registrar General of India
• The Government of India relies heavily on the Census data in
formulating its Five-Year plans, Annual plans and various other welfare
schemes
• Biggest source of primary data on: Demography, Economic Activity,
Literacy & Education, Housing & Household Amenities, Urbanization,
Fertility and Mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
Language, Religion & Migration
• Questions canvassed during the Census covers a wide gamut of
information pertaining to every resident : Houselisting Questionaire – 35
questions/Population enumeration – 29 questions.
• forms an important basis for formulating socio-economic and
administrative policies.
Data Dissemination Units: Hubs of
information
• Following 2001 Indian Census, the Office of the
Registrar General India framed a Data Dissemination
Strategy to be followed in all the 33 Directorates
• In 2002, a Data Dissemination unit (DDU) was set
up in all the Directorates
• DDUs have the latest facilities and technology, and
upgraded at regular intervals
Modes of Data Dissemination
• Printed reports (tables, State profiles, Analytical reports, Data Sheets on
important topics, Atlas, Booklets)
• CDs, DVDs including subject specific CDs
•
and downloadable files in the official Census website.
• Social networking site –
• Intranet facility at ORGI
• CensusInfo (Census India 2001 data disseminated using CensusInfo through an
interactive CD). The Provisional data of Census 2011 already on CensusInfo India
Dashboard
• Workshops/Seminars
• Digital Archive of Old Census Reports (1872 to 2011) in 33 DCOs in process
• A software module on
is being developed.
•
• Workstation in JNU for researchers - database of more than a billion persons as
collected in Census after anonymizing the sensitive fields. 18 more workstations in
process with different universities
Use of CensusInfo for data dissemination
- an innovative and flexible database technology for the dissemination
of population and housing census results
- Free software, owned by UN
- adapted from DevInfo database technology
- simple and user-friendly features that can be used to produce tables,
graphs and maps for inclusion in reports, presentations and advocacy
materials.
- Customization of the system to country-specific requirements,
including the name of the system, images, graphics, logos and colour
scheme.
- Supports local languages across unlimited geographic levels.
- Data can be exported to XLS, HTML, PDF, CSV and XML files.
CensusInfo India
For the first time in 2002, the Office of the Registrar General,
India, has used the
to disseminate census data.
CensusInfo was further updated with Data on Housing amenities
and Assets – 2001 and Primary Census Abstract – Census 2001
CensusInfo Dashboards
•The Global CensusInfo Dashboard represents the latest, most
advanced and engaging CensusInfo application that permits impactful
presentation of national census data from across the world
•Users can easily view the profile of any country from a drop down list or by
clicking on the map in the form of tables, graphs and maps
•Dashboard provides a single-view thematic presentation of selected
census-based indicators
•Presents consolidated view of a wide range of data on the basis of various
geographic locations and indicators
•The Dashboard is expected to enhance the mission of CensusInfo in
making national census data more accessible and user-friendly, thereby
promoting its wider use
CensusInfo India Dashboard
•India has adapted CensusInfo for the presentation of a
selected, high-priority set of indicators at the National, State
and District levels
• Allows users to view data in an interactive manner
• The Provisional Population Totals of Census 2011 is already
presented using CensusInfo Dashboard on the ORGI website
which allows users to generate quick profiles in the form of
tables, graphs and maps
•Users can access data on various indicators such as total
population size, child population, population density, sex ratio,
literates and literacy rates
Cont….
•
Files can be exported to PDF format
• Users can access
on the basis of National, State and
District with a single click of the button. Select a State on drop
down list, and get the State profile; similarly, District profiles
can be generated. One can also click on the
to generate
the State and District data
•
User can easily generate
of the various listed indicators through a drop down menu
•
Shortly, data on Housing and Household amenities and
assets and Primary Census Abstract will also be
disseminated using CensusInfo India
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Popularizing CensusInfo India
•Launching of CensusInfo 2012 cum National Workshop on
26 – 27 Nov. 2012 by Union Home Minister, India
•National workshop: training on CensusInfo which includes
demonstration of the software, hands on training on
generating tables and graphs, using map for exploratory
analysis and preparing presentations
•Workshops for prospective users in every Directorate in
respective States within 15th December, 2012.
CONCLUSION
Censusinfo has been a boon for India. It is envisaged that CensusInfo will
aid in better and quicker dissemination of data, reaching a wider audience
Fact: Certain sections of society in any country do not have access to
technology
- As per Census India 2011, 15.54 Million households (6.3%
total population) in India have computers/laptops in their
with 7.6 Million households having internet connection
- 14.50 million broadband subscribers as per the Telephone
regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
of
homes
Challenge: Effectively disseminating data to those at the grassroot level
Action/Solution: A combination of the latest technology incorporated into
the traditional methods of dissemination of data will pave the way in
ensuring easy accessibility of data to reach a wider audience, including
the users at the grassroot level
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