Komsomolskaya Pravda: ”The census starts in November”
At the meeting with head of the Federal Service on State Statistics, Alexander Surinov, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said: "The census is important both economically and socially. Based on the results, we will build our plans in defence, industry and some sectors of the economy. When is the last time we conducted a census?"
"Eight years ago," Surinov reported.
"It's time to do it again," Putin concluded.
Surinov said that the national census will start in November. It was already taken on Yamal and partly in Magadan.
"People are well disposed to the census," Surinov said. "The poll shows that 80% of the population is willing to take part in the census even without a promotional campaign."
Surinov reported to Putin that 400,000 census takers and 100,000 instructors or senior census takers will be involved. Another 25,000 heads of enumeration districts will supervise them.
"This is a big army. They will work for one to two months. It will be mostly students in major cities and the rural intelligentsia in the countryside. The latter has always helped us by tradition," Surinov explained.
Surinov said that the list of questions has been reduced. The most time-consuming and complicated questions have been removed but the data will nonetheless be collected from regular statistical reviews.
"I think we will receive a modern portrait of our society and our census will become part of the global census. The Americans and the Chinese are also conducting censuses this year. I'd like to assure you that everything will be okay."
"I wish you success," Putin said.
Larisa Kaftan
