Planning Department: Residents of unregistered houses hesitate to provide information for census

Department of National Planning has said that the census which started last Saturday is being widely supported by the general public, but some individuals hesitate to disclose their information because they have not registered their houses.

At a press conference held this morning at Dharubaaruge to provide information to the media on the ongoing census, Deputy Finance Minister, Mohamed Zuhair said that two cases have been identified where failure to register houses caused conflict.

“There is one issue that has been identified so far, that is, problems that arise because some houses have not been registered. Saying 'I do not want to provide information because this house has not been registered in my name'. Registration of houses is not our responsibility. There may be reasons why registration has not happened.”

He also noted that the issue of no one being at home is being faced in Male’ more often than expected, but enumerators have been leaving behind slips requesting residents to contact them. He said that the department has received complaints about this system, and explained that the purpose of the slip is to facilitate a way to meet, to collect information for the census.

Zuhair also said that collecting information by means of penalizing or threats is not how it should be done and they do not have to threaten and take information ‘by force’.

“Collecting information through intimidation or threats is not something we want to do. We are trying to collect information with the cooperation and support of the public. Under no circumstances do we see this sort of work being done through threats or exercising power,” he said.

It has been appealed to those citizens who employ foreigners to give their support in providing information regarding those foreigners.

“This undertaking is at national level. So it makes every citizen a participant, it is the social responsibility of every citizen to contribute.”

Census will be conducted from 20th till the 27th of the month. It has been decided to include all foreigners in the country with the exception of tourists.