The Odisha Revenue Department has announced an urgent overhaul of census operations to protect field workers from extreme weather and security threats.
In a major scheduling shift, all census activities will now be suspended daily between 11 AM and 3 PM to avoid the peak heatwave hours. This decision follows reports of several officials falling ill due to the blistering temperatures.
Safety concerns, however, extend beyond the climate. Following a violent attack on a census worker, the Revenue Minister confirmed that the state is coordinating with the Home Secretary and Director General of Police to track down the culprit, who is reportedly hiding in a forest.
A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be published shortly, outlining enhanced security measures for government employees. Furthermore, with schools and colleges already closed in various districts until the 23rd, the Minister stated that holiday extensions remain an option if the heatwave persists.