Bhubaneswar: In response to the prevailing heatwave conditions, the Odisha government has decided to suspend census-related field activities during peak afternoon hours to ensure the safety of personnel.
According to an official decision taken by the Revenue & Disaster Management Department after a review meeting chaired by Minister Suresh Pujari, census operations will remain halted between 11 am and 3 pm. The revised timing has been introduced to protect field staff from exposure to extreme heat conditions.
Officials stated that the move is aimed at minimising health risks for census workers engaged in outdoor enumeration duties during the ongoing severe weather situation.
Following the meeting, the department issued formal instructions to all district collectors, directing immediate implementation of the revised schedule across the state.
The government has also emphasised that census activities must be carried out without disrupting academic schedules in schools. Authorities have been instructed to ensure that the enumeration process does not affect regular school functioning, with special focus on maintaining smooth academic operations.
