Kathmandu : The national census is being conducted from 25th of Kartik, 2078 BS to 9th of Mansir. In the first phase, household registration has ends.

Central Statistics Information Officer Tirtha Raj Chaulagai said that although many supervisors were posted in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, women, men and other genders were not included in the list of supervisors deployed across the country.

The census, which takes place every 10 years, is about to take place this time. Earlier, the census was conducted in 2068 BS. Preliminary censuses a decade ago also included data on third genders. At that time, the number of 1,500 third genders from all over the country was not included in the census.

Officials at the department say that NGOs have not counted those with other gender identities. “After the 1500 numbers came from all over the country, they were the ones who came in very small numbers. It was said that it should not be made public,” said a department official.

The department is once again collecting data on those with other gender identities in the household list.

Chaulagai, information officer of the department, said that there was not much difference between the previous census and this time. He said that this time women, men and others (third gender) were included in the questionnaire of house and family listing. “The house-to-house supervisor takes the number of women, men and third genders when taking the number of families with the girl,” he said. “This time, the number of the community is also being taken.”

Has the supervisor assigned by the Central Statistics Department opened an account in a bank or financial institution? Do you have a loan or not? Have you received training from institutions including CTVT? Information Officer Chaulagai said that he would also ask that. He said that the number of houses and families will be taken without asking the questions in the questionnaire.

Chaulagai said some of the 8,500 supervisors had other gender identities. “Few came to the online application,” he said.

Only women and men in the census

The department has stated that even though the number of other genders is counted in the household list, only the data of women and men will be collected in the census. Chaulagai, information officer of the department, said that it was agreed not to count those with other gender identities in the original census.

“People from the third sex community came to the discussion,” he said. “It has been agreed to conduct a survey if the number of other genders is mentioned in the household listing.”

According to the agreement, statistics on sexual and gender minorities in Nepal with other gender identities will not be available.

Supervisors also did not ask the number of members with other gender identities. Purnaman Tamang of Namobuddha Municipality Ward No. 2 says that the number of members with other gender identities has not been asked. “They asked if there were any people with disabilities because of their financial situation,” said Tamang.
Meanwhile, supervisors are reaching the houses carrying family listing forms.

Chaulagai, an information officer at the Central Statistics Office, told supervisors not to ask for the release of those with other gender identities. “We have asked them to answer all the questions,” he said.

Supervisors posted in Lalitpur Metropolitan City have not asked the number of members with other gender identities as in Namobuddha Municipality. A local of Mahanagarpalika Ward No. 14 Shobahiti told Pehchan that they only took the number of men and women.

The locals said that they did not take the data of persons with disabilities even in their homes.