Census of India 2001 - An essay

Census of India 2001: A Pointer To The Nations Development

Census is the total process of collecting, compiling and publishing demographic, economic and social data pertaining at a specified time or times to all persons in a country or delimited territory. Census of India 2001 is the fourteenth of the uninterrupted series (once in every ten years) which began in 1872. The census of India 2001 is carried out in two phases. The first phase is the House Listing Operations. This was conducted from April to September 2000. The second phase is the Population Enumeration. This was conducted from the 9th to 28th February 2001. The reference ‘Census moment’ indicating the population of our country was 0.00 hours of 1st March 2001.

The first phase of Census of India 2001 began with the House Numbering Operations in which all the houses and structures were affixed a number and listed out in a systematic order. This was followed by the House Listing Operations in which information about the material used for construction, condition of the building, purpose for which it was built etc. from each building is collected. If the building is used for residential purposes a wide ranging set of information that throws light on the quality of life of the residents is collected. This data would provide a benchmark to study the quality of life, housing stock in different parts of the country etc.

The utility of the information generated during this phase can be summarized as follows:
• It enables to ensure complete coverage if the geographical area of the country during Population Enumeration in 2001.
• It helps to asses and estimate the quality of life of people of India, which is reflected by the availability or non-availability of amenities in each household
• It is useful to find out the number of housing units – residential and non-residential in the country. It also helps to find out the purpose for which they are used.
• It is useful to identify geographical areas at different levels of development. This can be utilized for preparing development plans for specific areas and for specific amenities.
• It helps to generate statistics on the industries connected with production, marketing, and other related areas for the above items.

The major Census operation –Population Enumeration is aimed at collecting information regarding a wide range of subjects from every person. For this purpose the census authority has come up with a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part concerns the location particulars of the person. The second part is about individual particulars. It contains 23 questions out of which 15 questions are connected with general and socio-cultural characteristics like religion, sex, mother tongue, literacy status, disabilities etc. 5 questions are connected with the economic status of the person like- is he/she is/was a worker, economic activity etc. 2 questions concern migration characteristics. The remaining question is on fertility (for women only). The third part is meant for households engaged in cultivation and has questions like fertility of the soil, area of land under them etc.

The information collected will be tabulated to provide a static view on the demographic, social, cultural, and economic condition of the people. The statistics obtained would be useful to undertake a comparative evaluation with similar statistics returned with earlier censuses.

For all this procedure the total cost is estimated to be over Rs.1000 crore. The total process includes printing of over a billion questionnaires and the consumption of over 10,000 tons of paper. Around 2 million enumerators, drawn from the ranks of school teachers and government employees are pressed into service to interrogate 20 million households. Why do we go through this gigantic exercise? It is because a census is the most reliable pointer to the nation’s development.

The census data is indispensable for social and economic planning of the country. The planning commission utilizes the census data on the distribution of population by age, sex, classified by rural and urban areas, cities, town areas, and social groups to analyze the growth of consumer demand and savings in the process of development. An analysis of the areas of different population size with different characteristics certainly serves as a basis for government plans and investigations in basic social capital. The data on economic activity and education levels of the individual as collected in the census is very important for manpower planning. The housing needs can also be accurately estimated. Besides all these, the census data can prove very helpful in the formulation of policies on education, health, agriculture, food, development of road, rail transport etc.

The population census provides the basic data for administrative purposes. One of the most basic administrative uses of census data is the demarcation of constituencies, the allocation of representation, and reservations for SC/STs on governing bodies.

The population data has many important uses for business and industry. Reliable estimates of consumer demand for a variety of goods and services depend on accurate information on the size of the population and its distribution at least by age and sex, since these characteristics heavily influence the demand for housing, furnishing, clothing, recreational facilities, medical supplies and so forth.

The census provides reliable basis for scientific analysis and appraisal of the composition, distribution and past and prospective growth of the population. The changing patterns in the urban – rural concentration, the development of urbanized areas, the geographic distribution of population, social and economic characteristics of the population are the questions of vital interest in economic planning and development evaluation.

It is important to remember that the utility of the census is completely dependant on its accuracy. In order to facilitate the citizen to volunteer information fearlessly, the government of India guarantees to protect the privacy of the information provided by the citizens. It also guarantees that the census information given by any citizen cannot be used in any court of law against the citizen. In a country where illiteracy is widespread, it is necessary for the Census Enumerators to impress among all the individuals the utility and the need for accuracy in the census operation. All of us can contribute to the development of the country by spreading this message far and wide and helping in the successful conduct of Census 2001.

PS:
• This essay was originally written when I was in the 9th standard. That was before the Census 2001 actually had happened. Thus the usage of future tense in a few places.
• This essay won the first prize in the competition. The prize distribution ceremony was in Tumkur. I had been there with my dad. Since we reached early, we had been to a cousin’s place that was close by. I recall playing a really memorable game of chess that lasted for over 4 hours. That was the highlight of the day.
• The actual event was a drab. Iron chairs and a dusty room with no more than 8 people. The prize was a set of the small green books on Gandhi’s principles packaged inside a TITAN watch cover box.

Indian Culture - An Essay

What is ‘Culture’? This question may bring forth several responses.

‘Culture is that which makes life worth living’.

‘Culture is not merely the sum of several activities but a way of life’.

‘Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society.’

‘Culture is that which being transmitted orally by tradition and objectively through writing and other means of expression enhances the quality of life through meaning and value by making possible the formulation, progressive realization, appreciation and achievement of truth, beauty and moral worth.’

These explanations and several others in this genre are true individually, but none of them can be said to capture the meaning of ‘culture’ completely. In other words, it is obvious that the word ‘culture’ defies a simple definition.

A set of cultural traits adopted by a group ‘to meet its needs and ensure its survival’ constitutes its culture. In this sense, culture could be associated with a nation, town, village or tribe.

From this perspective, what is Indian Culture? Is it possible to identify the elements of Indian Culture which transcend the barriers of time and space? Are there unifying forces in Indian Culture in spite of apparent differences in race, language, religion, customs, and traditions in this vast and ancient country?

According to Mr. K. M. Panikar – ‘India has a life view of her own, a special outlook on essential problems, which has persisted throughout her history and would hardly be denied by anyone.’

Mr. Panikar also identifies the following as some of the outstanding factors of the Indian Culture:

1. The tradition of tolerance adding to the richness and variety of Indian life
2. The sense of synthesis as reflected in racial harmony, the primary institutions of the village and family, architecture, sculpture, music and painting, modes of worship, faith in democratic institutions etc.
3. The universal outlook reflected in views such as – the world is one family.
4. The philosophical outlook
5. Respect for the individual based on the philosophical equation of Atma and Brahma

Indian culture has survived because in every generation the best among us have lived by certain fundamental values. We see many examples of this in our history. Starting from the Rishis in the Vedic period, we see several divine personalities like Mahavira, Buddha, Ashoka, Shankara, Madhvacharya, Krishnadevaraya, Akbar, Basava, Guru Govind Singh, Gandhi etc. who have spread these values through their preachings and examples.

The first value which underlies our culture is the faith in the Moral and Spiritual order. The Vedic sages called it Rita but later it was called Dharma. Age after age refinements were made in this concept but the faith has persisted in our people.

Rita is universal order, material, moral and spiritual which unfolds life. Satya or truth is its personal aspect, to live up to it through knowledge, devotion and action becomes a paramount demand on the sensitive individual who finds fulfillment by living up to it.

Satya in the sense of absolute sincerity, unity of thought, word and deed is not to be cultivated in a cave, or in a place of pilgrimage. It has to be lived in every action, in every occasion and every relationship.

The other value is dedication, surrender of the ego to God (Samyama). By living a dedicated life the individual recaptures the values for his own generation and passes it on as a legacy to the next one.

The third greatest value is consecration of life (Samarpana). Rigid asceticism is not consecration. Giving up life to find permanent salvation is not consecration. In order to realize consecration an individual needs to lead a full life in which every act comes to be consecrated as an offering to God.

In order to live up to these values in individual and collective life desire, greed, malice, anger, hatred have to be converted to noble aspirations.

Our religious tolerance and love for peace have been the natural outcomes of these values.

The legacies of Indian Culture based on these values upheld generation after generation in all aspects of human endeavors is so enormous that any attempt to list them all would certainly be futile.

Indian culture has always been dynamic and open. Its innate strength is evident in the outcomes of the interactions with various other tribes. Indian Culture has received, adapted and digested elements of different cultures like Indo-European, Mesopotamian, Iranian, Greek, Arabian, Roman and has changed little with each influence. But Indian Culture will retain its continuity. The Bhagwad Gita will never cease to inspire men of action and Upanishads the men of thought. The charm and the graciousness of the Indian way of life will continue. Be it religion, philosophy, maths, commerce, art, architecture, music, painting, or any other enterprise the impact of the Indian Culture is easily discernible even in the global content.


PS: This was originally written when I was in 10th standard. This essay won the second prize in the Canara Bank essay writing competition.
Notable events on the prize distribution day -

• Venkatesh Prasad handed out the certificates. The dude looks so much taller in real life than he ever does on the TV screen. He was easily the tallest guy there.
  
• It was on July 30, 2000. The exact day that Veerappan chose to kidnap Dr. Rajkumar. The one time I got to watch a riot right in front of my eyes, first hand. The first time I walked for more than 8 kms because there were no other means of transport. The closest I have ever been to burning rubber tires and smashed cars. And the longest impromptu holidays.
  

Google (T)Whacked!

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh arrived from google.co.in on "White Noise" by searching for Team building theatre. [10:50:40 - 10 hours 30 minutes ago].

Sigh!

The Play

Text may be added later. Or maybe not. Whatever.

Image Response to Stages of Life

Four Stages of Life

Ragihalli, Muninagar [Text]

Updated: Added words
The Date [Strato]: 20/2/2009
The Time [Strato]: 1330 hrs
The Team: Me, VK, Evilsense, Ganja, Ashok
The Place: Ragihalli
The Transportation: Bikes and the BMTC
The Tags: Trek / Night Out / Sunrise / Sunset / Rocks/ Orion/ Stars/ Oranges/ Jam in a tube/ Macchu/ Japanese/ Torches/ Music/ Venus/ Mars/ Grass Bed/ Bridge/ Village/ Children/ Chocolates/ Cucumbers/ Kerosene/ Conversation/
The Unmundane:
The Quiet
The Meteorite
The Satellite
The Rock Bombs
The Brambles
The Campfire
The Stories of Deer + Monkeys + Bears + Elephants
The Dried Elephant Poo
The Fresh Elephant Poo
The Effect of Cold and Dew on Water Absorbent Bedsheets
The Effect of Water Absorbent Bedsheets on Warm Blooded Beings
The Non-functional - Always On - Bike Headlight
The 23 People On The Street Who Made Gestures to Switch Off the Above Headlight
The Effect of Fast Bikes And Empty Roads After Bangalore Traffic
The Effect of the Above on Warm Blooded Beings
The Pictures:
This blog, Two posts below. Ragihalli, Muninagar [Pictures]
VK's Facebook Album
The Date[End]: 21/2/2009
The Time[End]: 1130 hrs

#define random

Updated: Titles
1. A fifth grader's plan to take over the world.
2. Some of the most expensive paintings in the world
3. Tōshirō, Hitsugaya. Captain:10th division. Bleach.4. Yo, Picasso by Pablo Picasso
5. Vagabond. Manga by Takehiko Inoue
6. Hugh Laurie as House MD. [Portrait 1]
7. Different kinds of Geeks8. One Piece. Manga by Eiichirō Oda9. False Start by Jasper Johns.
10. Jim Jarmusch:
11. Hugh Laurie as House MD. [Portrait 2]

Ragihalli, Muninagar [Pictures]

The Apartment

He hated this place. He had been in the same apartment for longer than he could remember. The living room, the bedroom and the loo. This was his world.

And he was sick of it.

If there was one thing that he was tired of more, it was the people here, who thought they were his closest friends. They came often to the apartment. And these days they hung around longer than they usually did.

From his usual place in the middle of the sofa, he watched as one of them - an aged geezer in evening wear – talk about the pesky kid in his neighborhood to the butcher. The butcher was as usual, wearing his apron around his ample waist, and the apron, as usual looked as it had just been washed off of a lot of blood. The butcher grunted a response. The story felt stale, as if the man had heard it before. Probably he actually had.

He looked around the apartment.

The young man in the suit sat reading the newspaper in the armchair, at the corner of the room. The young man seldom spoke to the group, and if he did, it was usually just pleasantries.

The door opened from outside. The young girl came in. This was his best part of the day. The girl looked beautiful. But then, she always did. The man liked her. She was nice to him. She smiled sweetly at him and said hello. She went into the bedroom, changed the sheets and collected the laundry for tomorrow. She put new groceries into the makeshift refrigerator in the living room. She checked that there was enough water in the apartment, and the room temperature was right. Then she sat next to him on the sofa, and chatted for a couple of minutes. Little nothings. But they felt good all the same. She got up then, smiled again, wished him a good night and left.

Her perfume seemed to linger around the apartment for a long time after she left. He sat there with a small smile on his face.

He got up after sometime and walked to the window. The Sun was already below the horizon. Night seemed to fall quickly these days. He suddenly felt tired. He turned around.

The young man turned over another page in the newspaper. The butcher was animatedly describing something to the old geezer. None of them seemed to be in any hurry to go anywhere.

He sighed. He yawned and stretched his arms. He called aloud that he was going to call it a day. The young man nodded without looking up from the paper. The butcher turned and grunted his assent. The geezer mumbled something that sounded like good night.

The man walked to the bed room and lay down on the freshly laid sheets. There still were faint reminders of the girl here.

He hated this place. The girl was the only one who made this place livable.

The young girl walked out of the building. She went up to the guard in front and turned in her keys to the place. The guard thanked her, wished her all the best and buzzed the gate open. She nodded and stepped out.

The huge gray sign – The Schizophrenic Institute for Terminal Cases - bleared dully back at her. She shivered involuntarily. She fleetingly felt sad for the lonely man who stayed in the apartment in the second floor. He was the only one in the whole building she could talk two words to. The other patients in the institute were too far gone. She shivered again.

She was glad that today was her last day of work here. She hugged the coat tighter to her body. She walked away without a backward glance.

She’d hated that place.

Finite Monkey Theorem

The infinite monkey theorem states that infinite monkeys hitting keys at random on infinite keyboards for an infinite amount of time will eventually produce the complete works of William Shakespeare.

This is yet another three monkey, five minute job.
But since...
is the truth - One of these days...
I am going to use the above advice and recruit more monkeys
:)

Btw, I came across this flowchart that said - How to get a six figure income by blogging. It is shared here for all to peruse.
Traversing it, I got:
START - [NO, YES, YES, YES, YES] - [NO, YES, YES, YES, YES] - [NO, YES, YES, YES, YES].... forever..

And after about a year:

Google Adsense:- All Time - Total Earnings : $0.15.

Grrrr.