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YEAR ENDER 2004
The government entrusted the work of coordination with all the Ministries and Departments, to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in a bid to speedily implement the schemes envisaged in the National Common Minimum Programme. There are 110 actionable, schematic, legislative and investment subjects, in the NCMP.
A massive exercise readied for preparing an Economic Census of the country beginning 2005. Its output will go a long way in drawing Social, Industrial and Economic planning at the National, State and District levels.
The process of collecting Social Statistics is being expedited. Various analytical and methodological studies have been taken up for the preparation of the Social Development Index (SDI). A number of social sectors related projects were carried out recently in collaboration with Research Institutions of the country. The outcome of this will be highly useful in bridging the data gaps.
The recommendations of the National Statistical Commission are under speedy implementation for the improvement of social standards. Particular mention should be made of the initiative taken by the Health Ministry for the development of Health Management Information System – Implementation of International Classification of Diseases - 10(ICD – 10), in this connection. Such initiatives are being taken up in other sectors also.
A Hand Book on local level data-base for the use of rural and urban local self-governments is underway. A system for maintaining database of key indicators at Block level is also under development. Till now, there is no system for maintaining database of key indicators at block level and pilot studies have already been conducted in nine States for this. The key indicators will help in gathering, the kind of statistics needed by policy makers and planners to take appropriate measures.
A UN Summit held in 2002 , on "Development in the Millennium",set out eight goals, 18 targets and 48 indicators. Of the 48 indicators, more than 35 were actually social indicators. The Ministry has taken steps to provide a Statistical Profile of these indicators by 2015 for proper monitoring by the concerned ministries and departments themselves. A report on the "Millennium Development Goals", is also to be broughtout by March 2005.
A Human Development Index is on the cards in synergy with the States. 19 States of the country have brought out their HDI and the rest are in the offing.
The National Sample Survey Organisation plays a significant role in bridging the data gaps. Its survey data is excessively used both in India and abroad. The quinquennial (every five years) "Consumer Expenditure" survey data are used by the Planning Commission in computing the poverty ratio of the country.
The GDP estimates released by the Ministry every quarter are also widely used for economic and social planning. A new initiative of collecting environmental statistics has been taken up for ultimately developing the Green GDP. Engendering statistics is also collected. This is for finding solutions to social disparities.
A separate Infrastructural Monitoring Division looks into the progress of implementation of 300 and odd Central Mega(above Rs.1000 crore) and Major(above Rs.100 crore) projects. The monitoring systems have been further streamlined to check time-delay and cost over-runs. Monthly and bi-monthly reports are sent to the government and the concerned ministries and departments are alerted about tardy implementation, if any. This has resulted in saving of thousands of crores of rupees from cost over-run.
The Guidelines for Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme are under revision. A draft new Guidelines would be prepared putting into effect the improvements. Expressing concern over accumulation of unutilised funds of MPLADS, the government has expressed its inability to raise the limit of fund for each MP from Rs. 2 crore. The government recently introduced Electronic monitoring of the scheme for effective implementation.
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