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The Sharjah Census 2015 has come a step closer to implementation through the adoption of the organizational structure, the start of staff training, and a proposal to require all government employees to register their families for the census via self-counting. The moves were discussed during the second meeting of the Higher Committee presided over by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah (DSCD).
During the meeting, attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of the DSCD, HE Sultan Abdullah Bin Haddah Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), and HE Afaf Ibrahim Al Marri, Director of the Sharjah Social Service Department (SSSD), the Higher Committee approved the organizational structure for preparatory and data collecting phases as well other essential issues such as those relating to sponsorship, promotion and training.
The meeting was also attended by Engineer Khalid Butti Obeid Al Muhairi, Head of the Department of Planning and Survey, Osama Samra, Director of Sharjah Media Centre, Khalid Mohammed Al Ali, Secretary-General of the Urban Planning Council, Eng. Khalifa Mohammed Bin Haddah Al Suwaidi, Director of Engineer Department from Sharjah Municipality, Colonel Ali Salim Al Khayyal, acting Director General of the General Directorate of Central Operations at Sharjah Police, and Ali Mahboob Al Raisi, Statistical Adviser at DSCD, as well as a number of directors and officials from the department.
It was suggested that all government employees could register themselves and their families in coordination with the Department of Social Services and the Economic Development Department as many employees in these departments are directly working on the census.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani welcomed the newly appointed Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi and said that the 800 members of the organizational structure will begin training over the next few days in preparation for the October launch.
Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani said, “The Sharjah Census will provide accurate statistical data on the economic, social and cultural life in Sharjah and define population rates in the emirate's cities. It offers complete information about establishments and where they are concentrated, and determines what needs there are for services and establishments, which will contribute to strengthening the economic and urban activity to cope with the current and future needs. It includes essential information for decision makers, officials and investors to plan development projects and will help develop economic, social and cultural sectors by defining demographic structure and the population status and their needs.”
An individual from each family will be selected to be responsible for completing the form or providing researchers with data. Leila Al Ameri, Supervisor of the Sharjah Census Field Work highlighted the benefits of self-counting. She said, “Self-counting can ensure data confidentiality, and reduces the financial and administrative burden as there is no need to visit families. Self-counting is easy use, secure and offers speedy and accurate auto verification on the data submitted by the public. Therefore, a short text message will be sent to all families containing a user name and password to allow them to fill in the form electronically.”
Abdullah Alkaddeed, Director of Statistical Sectors at DSCD, said the form contains basic data on buildings, homes and family members and said there are special forms for some social groups, such as elderly, widows or divorced/separated women, job seekers, and people with special needs as His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, issued instructions to obtain preferential information about these specific categories.
The committee also called for sponsors who are interested in contributing to the success of the census through their support. Karthik Iyer, Manager of Communications and Partnerships at the Department of Statistics and Community Development, said that the right of sponsorship has been granted to a maximum of six sponsors. He said, “The promotional campaign for the census will include major festivals and events, schools, and universities, as well as government bodies, shopping malls, and other locations, to ensure the fullest possible participation. An advertising campaign will shortly be launched in several languages, including Arabic, English, and Hindu, as well as Urdu and Filipino, among others. We are also promoting the census on social networking sites, encouraging public interaction with hashtag, #My Sharjah.”
Osama Samra, Director of the Sharjah Media Centre, outlined the latest developments on the Census Media Committee, and said they would address government organisations to support and promote the census and have the census logo on some of their documents and correspondence. He said, “The Media Committee is in the process of developing an action plan to promote the census locally, regionally and internationally.”
In February, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri decree No.7 of 2015 on conducting a general census of the population, infrastructure, housing and establishments in Sharjah. Under the Decree, the Higher Committee for Population Census in the Emirate was established to supervise the census. The census aims to provide accurate statistical data on economic, social, demographic, agricultural, environment and energy sectors, and others in the Emirate of Sharjah.
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