Kathmandu, March 28
Nepal is conducting the national population census this year after a hiatus of 10 years.
This year, in particular, many people are concerned if the census covers Kalapani, Limpiyadura and Lipulekh also as the government incorporated the region in its revised political map. The region in Nepal’s far-west was controlled by India for decades.
However, officials are not certain if the census will cover the region. Dhundiraj Lamichhane, who is coordinating preparations for the census at the Central Bureau of Statistics, says officials are still discussing the issue.
“But, we are supposed to comply with the government’s order. We cannot make a decision at our level,” Lamichhane says, adding, there is, however, no disagreement in principle that the region should be covered as this is also a part of Nepal.
Meanwhile, the CBS officials are also uncertain about how the region will be covered if the government makes any decision in this regard owning to difficult terrain. Also, the Indian army has not left its control over the places.
“But, there could be multiple options. You are not required to reach everyone’s house to count people,” an official in the bureau says. Nonetheless, he also mentions that an appropriate decision should be made by officials of the Prime Minister’s Office or the Ministry of Land Management.
The national census will begin on June 8, 2021, and will end on June 22.
