As the nationwide Census 2026-27 exercise gathers pace in city, there are growing concerns over the working conditions faced by enumerators tasked with conducting door-to-door surveys during an intense summer. Teachers, who form the bulk of the field staff deployed for the exercise, say poor planning, uneven workload distribution and lack of logistical support have turned the massive national exercise into an exhausting challenge. Several enumerators claim that, although they underwent a three-day training programme, inconsistent instructions from trainers created confusion from the very beginning.

 

The absence of co-ordination, they say, has resulted in operational disorder at the field level. However, the most serious concern being raised is the uneven allocation of census blocks. While the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) maintains that, each block was designed to contain approximately 300 houses per enumerator, field staff argues that, the actual numbers vary sharply from one locality to another. In densely populated areas, enumerators are reportedly handling far more households without any additional manpower being provided. The issue has gained significance after recent directions from the Municipal Commissioner, warning the staff to complete the initial process within 10 days. The warning has reportedly increased anxiety among field workers already struggling to cope with harsh weather conditions and mounting administrative pressure.