Sharjah: A new Sharjah Census, which will collect data on the most vulnerable in society, has been launched following the approval of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Dr Shaikh Sultan has ordered that information collected in this census, under the slogan ‘For a Better Tomorrow’, must include detailed data on the most vulnerable in society, namely, orphans, divorced and widowed women, the elderly, people with special needs, people who failed to pursue their studies, job-seekers, and abandoned wives.
He has also instructed census organisers to include information on these people’s living conditions, housing, availability of household appliances, income sources, educational level, and guardians or supporters.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, said: “The goal of collecting this information is to better support them with their most basic needs and improve quality of life. The directions of Shaikh Sultan, regarding Sharjah’s most vulnerable citizens, reflect his care and determination that all his sons and daughters in Sharjah have the means to live a dignified life.”
Al Thani added that once Dr Shaikh Sultan’s directions were received, all required steps were taken to execute them, “including briefing over 800 researchers involved in the census project, who will be responsible for collecting the information”.
The Sharjah Census 2015 project is organised in line with the directions of Dr Shaikh Sultan, which aims to develop the emirate and help decision makers and government institutions in Sharjah make informed decisions when planning for future development.
The census, organised by the Department of Statistics and Community Development, in collaboration with government organisations and departments in Sharjah, is based on UN best practices in censuses planning and execution and will help in setting ambitious goals for the social, economic, and cultural development of the country, based on sound knowledge of the emirate’s population.