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Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis International Award in Statistics was presented to Prof. Ben Kiregyera at Sydney today, by the Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Shri Oscar Fernandes. Prof. Ben Kiregyera of Uganda was crowned with the Award for his outstanding contribution to Statistics, at the 55th Session of the International Statistical Institute, currently in Session in the Australian Capital. The award carries among other things a cash prize of 5,000 US Dollars.
The Government of India instituted the biennial International Award for statisticians from developing countries, in memory of noted statistician Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. The award is being managed by the International Statistical Institute located in The Netherlands. The first Mahalanobis award went to Professor C.R. Rao in 2003.
Presenting the award Shri Oscar Fernandes said, statistics has assumed greater dimensions and come to play a vital role in the development of the economy. In the rapidly evolving globalised world, the role of statistics and statisticians cannot be understated. The developing countries in particular have a lot to do in the field of statistics and data collection, be it for planning, policy making and development. The attainment of the “Millennium Development Goals” places heavy demands on the managerial, governance and financial capabilities of most countries, Shri Oscar Fernandes said.
Describing Mahalanobis as a “renaissance man and scientist”, Shri Oscar Fernandes said that his significant contribution in the domain of statistics was, making use of data for the “poorest of the poor”. The award would go a long way in establishing the “authority of facts” in a world, where at times, attempts are made to establish “the fact of authority”, the Minister added.
Prof. Ben Kiregyera has been closely associated with the development of statistics in various African countries. His association with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has resulted in the successful conduct of a census of agriculture, consolidation of an early warning system for food security and establishment of a household food security, nutrition and health monitoring system and general statistical management.
VKS/GR
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