#4
pravda.ru
January 17, 2002
OLEG ARTYUKOV: A CENSUS OF RUSSIA TO BE HELD
The Federation Council has approved the law "On All-Russian population
census" on January 16. Thus, a legal base has been created for the
organization of a population census in Russia. The necessity of holding a census
of the Russian population has appeared a long time ago. Indeed, the exact number
of the Russian population is unknown. We often say that the population is
reducing, but nobody knows to what extent this is serious. More emotional people
would even say that Russia will soon die out, but it is far from being reality.
The process connected with the number of Russia's population can be controlled
only when statistics is provided. There is no doubt that the further development
of the problem requires exact information, which can only be obtained from a
population census.
The Federation Council decreed that information about the demographic,
economic, and social states of the population obtained in the population census
would be a basis for demographic forecasts, programs designed for social and
economic development, and the calculation of macroeconomic forcasts. The
government needs the census to reveal what resources will be necessary for the
realization of programs in the social sphere, first of all.
The last population census was held in the Soviet Union in 1989. In addition,
a so-called test census was twice held in Russia in 1997 and 2000. After these
tests, the RF government understood the necessity of an All-Russian population
census. 2,9 billion rubles fixed in the budget are to be spent for this purpose.
However, there is a problem that requires special attention. This is the
Russian traditional suspicion of any initiatives of the state that concern our
private lives. Certainly, the problem was touched upon in the law on the
population census. The senators decreed that to obtain more reliable information
during the population census, personal information is not to be available for
any departments and organizations, migration, fiscal, and judicial services. In
addition, the document determines the special necessity of preserving private
and family secrets.
NTVRU.com informs that not only governmental departments but also the mass
media will be involved in the propagation of the population census. National
public TV channels ORT, RTR, NTV, STS and RenTV – will show short films
to urge the population to participate in the census. The radio and the press
will join the action a bit later. The governmental officials think that this
will have an effect on the population.
It is important that the population census is a free-will action and that
nobody will force Russians to participate. According to the results of previous
populations censuses, there are not less than 10% of such people who are
reluctant to provide personal information. Unfortunately, most experts think
that it will be extremely difficult to guarantee the confidentiality of the
information obtained during the population census. The information may be also
distributed on pirated CDs. However, the solution of the problem is important
for a successful population census. Therefore, we are now to get ready for
census agents to come and ask with whom we live and on what means.
BACK TO THE TOP  #189 CONTENTS NEXT SECTION
|
