DAMMAM, 30 September 2004 — As the head count progresses in the 2004 National Census, the enumerators visiting every neighborhood in the Eastern Province are faced with numerous problems. Sometimes events take a hilarious turn.

Soon after the census started this month the Census Board launched its team of enumerators in the Eastern Province with a set of questionnaires which included some very pertinent questions: name and age of the family members, gross monthly income, money spent last month, educational qualifications of the family members, and listing of various household goods.

According to Misfir Al-Zahrani, a supervisor at the Census Board, the purpose of this questionnaire is to ascertain the age group of the country’s population; sex ratio; income group and a general trends in the lifestyle of an average Saudi or expatriate household.

“The questionnaire is based on scientific methodology and similar to censuses world over,” he said. “There is not a single offensive or personal question that would affront a Saudi or an expatriate,” Al-Zahrani said.

His enumerators had a tough time though when at one Saudi household they dared to ask the name and age of the female members. The head of the family got so upset that he asked the enumerator to leave his house immediately.

Questions like “How many cars you have?” or “Do you have satellite channels?” or “Do you have Internet facilities?” also draw hostile answers.

Ali Al-Ghamdi, an enumerator covering Alkhobar’s Bayoni area, faced a barrage of questions from the head of the family when he asked these questions.

“Why don’t you ask “How I am coping with a family of eight with a meager salary of SR4,000 per month? Ask me why my eldest son who is now 27 and is a graduate is still unemployed?”

Enumerators say that they face hilarious situations where expatriates tend to concentrate. Those with irregular documents tend to hide from the enumerators. “I visited a bachelor’s apartment occupied by Indians in the Thuqba area,” said Hadi Al-Dosarry, an enumerator. “The moment I pressed the bell all hell broke out. It was as if police or passport officials had raided the place.”

A few in the apartment locked themselves up in their room pretending that no one was there. “I explained to those who were brave enough to face me that I was neither bothered about their legal status nor I was going to report to the passport officials about their irregularities, if there were any. I just wanted to get answer to some questions.” They did not believe him and he came back with incomplete survey.

Another problem these enumerators face is the timing. During morning and daytime the male members of the households are either at work or in school and enumerators avoid visiting families. “In the evening the male members are tired and uncooperative,” said Al-Dosarry.

Enumerators who get SR200 per day for their tiring job believe that prior to the census it is absolutely necessary to educate Saudis and expatriates alike about the purpose of the census.

“People must be told that authorities are not going to take any punitive measures on the basis of their replies,” said Al-Dosarry.