INSIDE KASHMIR: J&K state witnesses increase in the literacy rate

Shedding light on the recently held census in Jammu and Kashmir State, the Chief Principal Census Officer (Director Census J&K), Mr. Farooq Ahmad while addressing a jam-packed press conference thanked the highest ranks including Governor, N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, Chief Secretary Deputy Commissioners, and other concerned officers and officials for extending their wholehearted cooperation for completing the most important census process in a befitting way.

He said despite some hurdles came in the way during process our enumerators and other concerned officer faced the challenge and completed the task in a very comprehensive manner within the time frame. On the occasion, Joint Chief Census Officer, C. S. Sapru and Assistant Director, P. K. Negi was also present.

Mr. Farooq Ahmad said that the 2011 census process has been completed in two phases. Under the Ist phase home listing while under the 2^nd phase Census programme was completed. He further said that the schedule of the Census process was from May 15 to June 30, however due to some difficulties it was given two extensions upto September 13. Later the concerned Deputy Commissioners were nominated as Principal Census Officers and they nominated other incharge census officers etc.

The Chief Principal Census Officer further said that Registrar General of Census, Government of India, personally took interest in the process and visited Jammu and Kashmir state in January and issued

directions to concerned Census officer/officials through power point presentation to ensure that no area of state remains out of census process besides the then Chief Secretary, Mr. S S Kapoor also issued the strict instructions later for enlisting all the sections of the society living in far flung areas including near forest, temporary migratory people like Gujjar and Bakerwals and the people living in the interior of the Dal lake.

Meanwhile the Chief Principal Census Officer described that that J&K state has shown a remarkable achievement in literacy rate. He said that in 2001 census there were 4807286 literate while 2011 it has gone to 7245053. He further said during 2011 census the population of the J&K state has been recorded 12548926 in which the population of the women folk is 5883365 while the male figure is 6665561. However, he expressed dismay on the decrease in sex ratio and described it a matter of concern. He said against 55.52 percent of literacy rate recorded in 2001. The literacy percent of 2011 census has been registered 68.74 percent in the state which is commendable.