KATHMANDU: The 12th National Census is taking place in 2021 with the slogan, “My Census, My Participation.” The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is making preparations to effectively conduct the national census taking place after two years.

The CBS has said that it is difficult to include all the Nepali people especially those living across the world in the upcoming national consensus. Over 7.5 million Nepali people are living in 189 countries in the world, according to government estimation.

However, the government has not been able to collect data of those Nepali people living for various purposes including employment, and studies across the world.

According to the National Census 2011, Nepal’s population was 26,620,809, of which 1,925,000 Nepali people were living abroad then.

The upcoming national consensus cannot include all the Nepali people living across the world, said Nebin Lal Shrestha, director-general of the CBS.

“It is impossible to include especially those living with their family in the 2021 National Census. We need to devise a standard mechanism to conduct it,” said Shrestha.

He further said that the CBS will collect information about the Nepali diaspora with the help of diplomatic missions and consulates. It is, however, difficult to obtain information about the Nepali migrants from those countries that do not have Nepal’s diplomatic missions.

The Nepal government has recorded only of those Nepali people living abroad for higher studies and foreign employment but does not have the record of those who have already settled abroad for good.

It is hard to include those Nepali diasporas who have already settled in the foreign land.

This trend is ongoing. It has posed a serious challenge to the Nepal government when it comes to conducting national consensus.

Census expert Dipendra Thapa said it would be unfortunate to leave them out of the national consensus. He further said the government should leave no stones unturned to collect details of the Nepali migrants capitalizing on the upcoming national census.

“The government has to come up with genuine data of Nepali population living abroad in collaboration with the diplomatic missions, consular and other Nepali organizations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Shrestha.  This is an opportunity for the government to figure out the exact number of Nepali people abroad.

According to the National Census 2011, Nepal’s population was 26,620,809, of which 1,925,000 Nepali people were living abroad then.

It is estimated that the number has gone up by four times to date. The CBS has planned to include over 4 million Nepali people living across the globe in the upcoming census. Out of them, around 60 percent of the Nepali people living abroad are likely to be missed out of the 2021 national census, said the CBS.

It is hard to include those Nepali diasporas who have already settled in the foreign land. Nepal has diplomatic missions in 30 countries and consulates in 80 countries. However, it has been a hard nut to crack for the Nepal government to conduct a census of the Nepali people living abroad.

The CBS has planned to conduct a mock consensus in various districts starting January 15, 2020, until April 12, 2020.

A total of 55 wards of 14 districts – two from each province – will be picked for the mock census.

The CBS said it would use all the required materials such as a map of the country, questionnaire, efficient manpower, and the latest technology during the mock census to make it a success. The upcoming census will try to include all the people irrespective of creeds, castes and sexual minorities, the CBS said.