of Gollyadeil, north of the town of Sittwe on 18 May 2012. (Reuters)
Tens of thousands of teachers will carry out Burma’s first nationwide census since 1983, a minister said yesterday, but some areas may remain out of reach because of conflict with separatist groups.
The count, which will take place in 2014 ahead of general elections the following year, will survey 11m households in more than 300 townships across the country, immigration minister Khin Yi said.
“We will use about 100,000 primary school teachers to make the list of people and 20,000 middle school teachers to check the list,” he said at a lower house meeting at parliament in Naypyidaw, adding that they will conduct door-to-door surveys.
But Khin Yi admitted it will be tough to access around 2 percent of the country’s estimated 60 million people because of ongoing fighting in several areas.
The new government, which took power last year ending five decades of military rule, has signed peace deals with rebel groups in an effort to end civil conflicts that have gripped parts of Burma since independence in 1948.
But fighting continues in a number of areas including the northern Kachin state.
“We may have some difficulties… but we will try to overcome them,” Khin Yi said.
There was no mention of whether the stateless Muslim Rohingya who live in western Arakan state, which has been rocked by recent deadly communal violence, will fall under the census.
Burma’s estimated 800,000 Rohingya was described by the United Nations as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities.
The United Nations in April pledged to help Burma carry out the census, by offering technical support and mobilising financial support.
Updated population figures could help the government provide better services and lead to Burma’s myriad ethnic groups gaining greater recognition in the state.
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