BPS to launch nationwide census every ten years

BPS to launch nationwide census every ten years

JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch a nationwide
population census, held every 10-years, in June with the results
announced two months later.

Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) chief Sugito Suwito on
Tuesday said the bureau would hire some 300,000 enumerators to
collect data from about 52 million families throughout the
country.

President Abdurrahman Wahid is expected to officially announce
the outcome of the census, which will cover the number of
households and the numbers of female and male population, when he
delivers his independence speech on Aug. 16.

Different from the previous four population censuses, the
coming census will also cover the provision of small area
statistics, including rural and remote areas.

"The complete and detailed data on population distribution
according to residence, marital status, citizenship, education
and occupation will be announced gradually in accordance with the
completion of data processing in the regional and central
governments," Sugito said after meeting with the President at the
Bina Graha presidential office.

Sugito said the country's last census was conducted in 1990.
He expects this year's census could be carried in all provinces,
including Maluku, North Maluku and Aceh provinces despite the
turmoil which has struck those areas.

According to Sugito BPS has completed training for the census
officials in Maluku and in North Maluku.

But he conceded that problems may emerge in some areas such as
Aceh due to the poor security situation.

Sugito said the government had allocated some Rp 400 billion
(US$53 million) to finance the census and that people should not
have to fear extortion during the time the census is being taken.

"People will not have to pay anything and their secrecy is
guaranteed by the government. Therefore we appeal to people to
receive the census enumerators and give all necessary information
to them," Sugito appealed. (prb)