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Most Populous Province Trying to Have Everyone Registered for Census
Liu Quan, a farmer living in central China's Henan Province, was quite alert when a census worker paid him a visit.
"Why do you count again?" asked the farmer at his home in Kaifeng County, who was worried about being fined twice for having two children. Liu's wife gave birth to a girl four years ago. They already had a boy before that.
The unplanned birth was against the family planning policy China adopted in 1970s.
Liu Min, the census worker, explained the census policy patiently while showing Liu a sheet. It says clearly that people like Liu who have more children than the family planning policy stipulated, will not be fined during the census. No administrative departments are allowed to look into the unplanned birth using any excuse after the child has been counted.
After clearing his mind of doubt, Liu Quan honestly filled out the census form. To his satisfaction, Liu succeeded in registering the birth of his daughter this time although the girl is already 4-year-old. Being a registered child, the little girl will have no difficulty in enjoying benefits such as schooling in the future.
In China a permanent residence booklet (card) is a must when one goes to school, looks for a job or buys a residence.
The total population of Guozhuang Village where Liu Quan lives is 909, 52 people more than last year's figure. Some of the 52 people are like Liu's daughter.
Liu Min promised that he and three other census takers have paid a door-to-door visit to every household in the village and had every villager registered for the census.
The hinterland province of Henan is the most heavily populated province with the most farmers in China with a population of over 93 million.
It is a key problem for the province to have all people like Liu's daughter registered for the ongoing census.
"The accuracy of the census will be affected if people who had been born in violation of the one-child policy were not registered," said Li Zhibin, vice-governor who is in charge of the census work in the province.
"We must keep our promises, made by the central and provincial governments, in order to solve the problem," he said. The promises Li mentioned were on the sheet that Liu Quan was showed.
Zhao Xichao, director of the census office of the province, said that efforts made by governments at various levels have positive results. Most families have brought their children out into the open.
China launched its fifth census on November 1. The census has entered the stage of reexamination since the door-to-door census was completed on November 15. But local census offices are still calling individuals who have not yet registered to hurry up.
The exact figure of national population is expected to be announced early next year.
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