| 60 years on, Census Deptt still functions in rented accommodation | | | Sandeep Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 3: It may sound strange but it is true that the Regional Census offices at two capital cities of the state viz Jammu and Srinagar are functioning in rented accommodations for over last 60 years as the department has no building of its own.
According to sources, Census Department is paying more than Rs 3 lakh as rent per month for its rented accommodations in Jammu and Srinagar which is a burden on the exchequer.
Sources further said that it is quite baffling that despite making huge payments as rent, the authorities never planned to purchase a piece of land in both the cities to construct its own building.
"It is a pity that department which is one of the vital organs of Government of India and which is the cornerstone of all the future planning has no accommodation of its own in J&K," said sources.
The Census Office which conducts survey in the length and breadth of the country after every 10 years to collect sample relating to population growth, education, health, water which in turn serves as a useful tool to plan developmental schemes.
Sources further said that the Census deptt though doing a tireless job is facing a plethora of problems both in Jammu & Srinagar in absence of its own accommodation.
In Srinagar, the Census Office used to be situated in Rajbagh area, now it has been shifted to Bishember Nagar. While in Jammu, the Census office is located in congested Krishna Nagar area near Government Gandhi Memorial Science College from which the people of city are unaware.
Talking to Early Times, RK Bhagat, Director, Census J&K said that this department is doing a yeoman's job maintaining the data related to population of State.
"In cold or hot season, our men are at their job seeking the information regarding the increase in population of the state," he said.
On rented accommodation issue, the Director Census said, that he is at the helm of affairs for the last one year only and is not in a position to say anything on this.
"The accommodation problem has been raised with the higher authorities and hopefully the issue will be readdressed," he maintained. |
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