KPSIAJ Census

Few months back, in July 2009 I wrote an article “KPSIAJ Data Analysis http://khojashia.blogspot.com/2009/07/kpsiaj-data-analysis.html” in which I tried to emphasize on importance of quality data management, I was very contented when I came to know that at last after several years someone decided to work on this project which can serve as a backbone for all other projects. Mr. Ashraf Haidari, Hon. Secretary of KPSIAJ formally announced the Census Project on anniversary of Shaheed Hameed Ali Bhojani.

I am hopeful that the census team has done enough planning to make this project successful, successful project is one which meets all the quality requirements (Scope, budget and duration) and after completion it is converted into successful operation. The initial plan mentioned by census team member looks pretty reasonable and realistic and I think for the sake of easiness and user friendliness they have kept the data collection process very simple, manual and without any use of technology, although this is will increase the back office work load but I think this is fair enough for the first trial, if things go well and inshallah it will then hopefully they will think of enhancement in the process.

There are few points which are not clear to me and I am sure many of you must be having similar kind of questions in your mind; we can put our questions on this forum and will request the census team member to give us reply either on this forum or in some seminar or whatever suits them.

As a general practice I can divide the entire process of census project in 3 phases.

(i) Pre-Requisites: Can be termed as Planning

(ii) Data collection: Can be termed as Execution

(iii) Data management: Can be termed as Controlling

Let’s take a brief look at all three phases and brainstorm the entire process. Maybe this can be helpful to the officials of KPSIAJ in making their process smoother. Also by discussion we can highlight some week areas so they can focus on it.

Planning:

This can be arranging of “professional” volunteers, counters in different areas, awareness programs and most importantly “Marketing” of this project. Example: It has been more than 1.5 months that Mr. Haidary announced the project but still majority of non solider bazaar people doesn’t know about it.
As far as the scope of this project is concerned, the speech given by KPSIAJ officials doesn’t clear some of the following questions. I am sure they have the clear scope with them, but due to lack of our knowledge we are mentioning these as questions.

a. The first and most important question, what is the scope of this project? (1) To collect data of every single Khoja member or (2) To collect data of those who are easily accessible, for example those who live in Khoja populated areas or whose addresses in Khoja jamaat’s record are still valid?

b. Are there any additional arrangements for people who are member of Khoja Jamaat Karachi but living in different cities?

c. Are there any additional arrangements for people who are member of Khoja Jamaat Karachi but living outside Pakistan?

d. Data collection will be done only for Karachi khoja jamaat or other jamaat’s like Hyderabad or badin are also included in it?

Execution:

As mention in the speech by the in charge of census project, Mr. Naveed or Mr. Shakir (I forget the exact name) there will be counters in different areas and several volunteers will be serving in respective areas. They will go door to door and collect the data by “filling or getting filled” a per-defined template. The idea seems to be very good but again as a common man there are few questions related to this exercise.

a. Is the term “Areas” specific to khoja populated areas? I think he meant that like soldier bazaar, kharadar, pechs, defence, garden, lines area etc. and assuming that people living in non khoja areas will contact the nearest counter, seems logical BUT how will they make sure that every person has contacted them or if the volunteers are going door-door how will they make sure that they have covered majority people in both khoja and non-khoja areas?

b. If the volunteers are going door to door how will they overcome the problem where addresses in Jamaat’s record are no more valid?

c. I am not sure about the scope and the question related to outside the country or city is already mentioned in the planning phase, if the answer to that question is “Yes those people who are registered members of Karachi jamaat and are living outside are included in census project”, what will be data collection strategy for them?

Controlling:

The most difficult phase in my opinion is the controlling part; it includes the data security, data updation and converting data into quality data. What I understood from the speech of Mr. Haidary/Mr. Naveed is that volunteers will collect data in pre-defined format and back office will compile the data in some software. Now the following points are of high importance.

a. What will be the process for data updation for example addition of child, change of address or other contact details, change in educational statistics etc. I understand that this should be individual’s responsibility that when there is any update or change in the data, people should inform jamaat, but are we assuming that this will happen?

b. Secondly, data security, I think much work is already done on this point and KPSIAJ will not allow any data leakage. Whatsoever, this point still needs some more focus.

c. I am not aware that what information will be asked in census form but I am hoping whatever data is collected, it will be utilized in making future strategies and plans, just dumping the data in computer and getting general outputs will not serve the purpose, they should have some good analysis tools so they can get 100% out of this data, this can be improved with the time but still it needs attention.

These were some of my observation and confusion about the project but overall I appreciate the management of KPSIAJ for thinking on this issue and will pray for their success.

Announcement is done and now we all are waiting for the action to begin.

Good job KPSIAJ!