The State Government has begun a process to update the National Population Register (NPR) with the launch of a pilot survey. A door-to-door survey would be conducted soon as part of the process, an official here said.
“As per instructions of the Registrar General of India, the NPR exercise has been initiated. A pilot survey has been carried out in parts of the State while a door-to-door survey and house-listing will be conducted in mid-April,” he further informed.
Amid fears that the exercise could be a precursor to National Register of Citizens (NRC) implementation, the Union Cabinet had last month given its go-ahead for Census 2021 and NPR updating while making it clear that the apprehensions were unfounded.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, however, insisted that it was the “first step” towards NRC implementation.
Explaining the format, the Odisha official said the number of fields on the registration form has been increased and several questions rephrased. Unlike 2010, when the NPR was last updated, every applicant this time would have to furnish Aadhaar number, mobile number, voter ID and driving licence.
“In 2010, people were asked by NPR enumerators to provide names of father, mother and spouse, while also stating if they were alive. This time, people will have to provide date, place of birth of parents, mother tongue and other relevant details if born outside country,” he said.
Reiterating that the NPR and the NRC are not connected, BJP State vice-president Samir Mohanty on Tuesday said it is necessary to update the population register for proper distribution of welfare scheme benefits.