The completion of Census 2027 population enumeration in the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is indeed an administrative milestone. However, its significance is anything but small. Covering 5,292 Enumeration Blocks—4,597 in J&K and 695 in Ladakh—this exercise has reached communities that are often the last to be counted and the first to be forgotten. What makes this Census particularly noteworthy is that it is India’s first paperless Census, with self-enumeration introduced for the first time. The fact that J&K ranked first among Union Territories and eighth nationally in self-enumeration speaks volumes about public participation. It tells us that when people are trusted with a process, they respond with responsibility. The credit belongs as much to the citizens as to the enumerators who braved high-altitude terrain, snow-bound passes, and remote villages to complete this task within the stipulated timeline. The benefits of this exercise are far-reaching. A Census is not merely a headcount; it is the foundation upon which development planning rests. Reliable population data determines how resources are allocated, where schools and hospitals are built, how welfare schemes are designed, and which regions need priority attention. Without accurate numbers, even the best-intentioned policies can miss the people they are meant to serve. For Ladakh, where every district fell under the snow-bound category, and for districts like Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban in J&K that face similar challenges, this enumeration ensures that remote and difficult-to-access populations are not left out of the development story. The District Census Handbook, now being prepared, will serve as a valuable planning document for years to come. The release of Rs 49.2 crore for infrastructure, training and honorariums also reflects a serious commitment to getting this right. As Census 2027 moves to the plain areas in February, it is worth remembering that counting every citizen is not just an administrative obligation—it is an act of democratic inclusion.
When we picture a farmer, the image that usually comes to mind is a man. But the reality of Indian agriculture tells a very different story. Women constitute nearly 64 to 76...
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