VO Media outlets learn a deeper insight into the Lao Population and Housing Census
INTRO: Media outlets have gained a deeper insight into the Lao Population and Housing Census and will pass on the information to the public to ensure that everyone is ready when the census takes place from March 1-7.
STORY: The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Planning and Investment on Friday organised a half day talk on the census to inform media personnel of the details.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Savankhone Razmountry, who is a member of the National Steering Committee for the 2015 census, said the media is responsible for keeping everyone in the country informed.
According to him, This session will help reporters to fully understand the procedures involved in the census so they can publish the correct information and there are no mistakes in news reports.
Lao National Television and Lao National Radio and the main print media outlets Lao News Agency, Pasaxon newspaper and Lao Press in Foreign Languages will function as information channels in publicising the population survey. Other media outlets will also be involved in the process.
According to a speaker from the Lao Statistics Bureau, this fourth national census will delve more deeply into the make-up of the population, with more questions asked than previously.
People interviewed for the first national census in 1985 were asked seven questions, but this year they will be asked 63 questions due to the country's economic growth.
All Lao and foreign nationals will be counted. But with regard to foreigners, the census will record only information relating to people who have been living and working in Laos for over six months. Babies born after midnight on March 1 will not be counted for the purposes of the census, but those born before midnight will be included.
The Lao Statistics Bureau will deploy almost 26,000 census staff who will go from house to house on foot and are receiving training in interviewing techniques.
The results of the survey will have a preliminary release in September but a nationwide announcement of the census findings will be published in May 2016.
The new survey is crucial to assessing progress towards Laos' development goals and participation in the Asean Economic Community.
The statistics bureau said the project would cost about US$7.2 million (56 billion kip).
The government has approved about 50 percent of the funding with the remaining 28 billion kip coming from the Swiss government, United Nations Population Fund, World Bank, Chinese government and UNICEF.

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