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The fieldwork connected with the 5th Economic Census will begin next month and continue till the end of June. Respective States and Union Territory Administrations will be undertaking the fieldwork. The census will be conducted in the whole of the country except certain areas that remain inaccessible throughout the year as well as in those places where the state and union territory governments find it impossible to collect the information.
The main aim of the Economic Census is to generate the latest picture of enterprises/establishments, covering all sectors of the economy barring crop production and plantation. The data generated will be used for undertaking follow-up surveys. Two new features being applied for the first time are, the use of Integrated Character Recognition Technology to quickly process the data generated and collection of information on establishments employing ten or more workers, in order to prepare a Directory of such units. To facilitate the use of the new technology, schedules have been designed in the ICR adaptable format.
The 5th Economic Census is being implemented as a Central sector plan scheme with 100 per cent fund assistance to the States and Union Territories. A sum of Rs.99.20 crore has been allocated for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07 under the 10th Plan. This includes Rs.46.52 crore for the current financial year.
Four Economic Censuses have been undertaken so far by the Central Statistical Organisation. Based on the data generated by these censuses, the National Sample Survey Organisation, also of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, had already conducted 18 follow-up Surveys. The results of these censuses and surveys have provided the basic data for the purposes of planning more follow-up surveys, to project improved national income estimates and related aggregates.
The first phase of training of “Core Group Trainers”, as well as state level officials training by the core group, is under progress for the conduct of the 5th Economic Census.
VKS/SR
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