Use of Census Information in Building an HKH Socioeconomic Database: Concerns Regarding Equity

摘要

Government census information is often the best ndicator for understanding ground realities, especially in the HKH region where modes of communication and the accessibility of credible alternative information are often limited. The primary advantage of the use of census information is its coverage, which essentially translates into the coverage of entire micro-administrative regions of a given country. However, there are crucial issues to be kept in mind when utilising census figures, especially in the context of equity and indigenous issues of the HKH region. One is the need to understand the role played by political instability and indigenous movements. One direct consequence has been the growing disagreement of local indigenous communities on the way census information is presented in many HKH countries, primarily with allegations of inaccurate presentation of data with regards to indigenous populations, their languages, and their resources.