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 USD 445 Mn

Cost per person USD 0.37

No. of Census Functionaries 2.7 Mn

No. of Languages in which Schedules were canvassed

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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 8,000 MTs

Material Transported 10,500 MTs

Data processing and Analysis

• 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.

Data analysis & processing: a mammoth task in India…

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Number of Administrative Units in Census 2011

States/UTs 35

Districts 640

Sub-districts

5,924

Towns 7,935

Villages 0.64 million

Image basedRecognition (ICR)

Manual completion of unrecognized characters

Census 2011 ProcessCensus 2011 Process

Scanning

Database/ Tabulation

Data Dissemination

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 manually compiled and declared within four weeks.

• 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

Scanning

ASCII F

ILE

Prepare Batch

Recognition

Tiling

Completion

Exception

Export/Archival

Census Data Processing-17 locations

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

- 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. 

Use of CensusInfo for data dissemination

CensusInfo India

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….

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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% of total population)  in India have computers/laptops in their homes with 7.6  Million households having internet connection

- 14.50 million broadband subscribers as per the Telephone regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

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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