Agartala, 27th August 2026 : Tripura Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Thursday expressed concern over alleged interference in the ongoing census process and urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to take steps to ensure that enumerators are able to record household information without pressure or influence.
Raising the issue during the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Chaudhury said the ongoing census carries particular importance as the country is conducting the exercise after nearly 16 years. He pointed out that the census had been delayed earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Chaudhury, house-listing and population enumeration are now underway across the state, and the information collected will have a direct bearing on future planning and development policies.
He alleged that reports received from different blocks and districts indicated that some officials, including certain District Magistrates and Block Development Officers, had allegedly sought to prevent enumerators from recording specific details about households.
He claimed that issues such as the absence of electricity, use of lanterns and the condition of toilets were allegedly being left out of the records in some areas.
Chaudhury further alleged that some enumerators, after initially recording information based on their field observations, were later asked to make changes to the data.
He stressed that the census should reflect the actual ground situation rather than presenting an artificially improved picture of a particular district or block.
“Accurate data is essential for proper planning and setting development targets,” Chaudhury said, warning that incorrect figures could have long-term consequences for the allocation of resources and implementation of government schemes.
The Opposition Leader clarified that he was not making a blanket allegation against government officials or the Census Directorate. His concern, he said, was specifically about a section of officials who might be attempting to influence the enumeration process.
Chaudhury appealed to Chief Minister Manik Saha to investigate the allegations and instruct officials to allow enumerators to perform their responsibilities independently.
He said maintaining the integrity of the census was essential because the data would serve as an important foundation for government planning and development in the years ahead.
