Census in 2002

Eka Gabadadze

Nobody knows what the year 2002 has in store for us. Nevertheless, it will go back to history as one of the most memorable years – the year of the first general census in independent Georgia!

This event was proceeded by lengthy preparation works though this census has been deferred several times. This process has dragged on till international organizations extended a helping hand to us. We carried out general census only 12 years later notwithstanding the 10-year break allowed by the UN.
In accordance with the international standards, 5-6 dollars are spent per head during the elections. In spite of the fact that we managed to minimize the figure, we will still have to spend much on this enterprise: a full cycle of census (1995-2003) was estimated at 8 million GEL!… The first and, probably, the most important thing is that census is not an administrative police enterprise, as some competent authorities would say. Besides, no one will start to speak to the citizens in the language of official documents. Despite the contradiction, the population was skeptical to this process. Census taker is identified with a meter reader or inspector. That is why, miscalculation in census is directly proportional to the number of “mistrustful” citizen in the country. The less people believe the government, the more will be miscalculation of election returns. Preparation for census in 2002 was quite a lengthy and hard process. Georgia began to prepare for the census since 1995 on the basis of the President’s decree. Due to the difficult financial situation, it was not performed as planned. The law “about the general census in Georgia” has made a great contribution to the preparation process of census. This very law formed legal basis for the preparation of census taking, material processing, publication and further spread of census returns. Census paper with the circulation of 14 million was printed. Specially trained personnel was selected. Temur Beridze, Chairman of Statistics Department, said: “As far as confidential information is concerned, I would like to point out that some say this information will allegedly be used against the citizens”. I would like to assure everybody that information about individuals and persons will be confidential. We are interested in statistic data only, general tendencies – the number of the unemployed in the country, where nursery gardens, schools, hospitals must be built in, etc. The law maintains the confidentiality of this information. If we divulge this information, we will be punished.
As for appropriated funds, they were spent, mainly, on salaries. Yet, census is not only a salary. Issue of 13,5 millions of census papers, training, transportation, advertisement… International organizations – United Nations, government of Holland, Germany and Department of International Development of Great Britain provided a great assistance to us, too. This assistance was reflected in hardware, training, data processing, purchase of computers. 23 500 people take part in the census process. Census returns largely depend on the sensibility of civil consciousness of our citizens. Though, miscalculation is observed in other developed countries, too. Its allowable rate totals 3%. The census is considered to be completed only if it makes up 3%. Otherwise, sampling of population will be performed.