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18:8 IST
MAJOR DECISIONS AND INITIATIVES
STATISTICS AND
PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
Modernisation Of Statistical System
Success of any programme depends on effective monitoring. And for successful planning, statistics is vital. With this twin objectives, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has been taking innovative initiatives in the past one year to improve data collection and provide improved and authentic information.
The Ministry has proposed to modernize the statistical system in the country with support from the World Bank. The Programme “Modernization of Statistical System in India” already under progress, has given birth to the sub-project implementation plan for Tier-1 of the main project. The Sub-project has been cleared for implementation as an economic reforms programme by the Department of Economic Affairs.
The Tier-1 of the project includes several components, i.e. Establishment of an All India Statistical Network, Strengthening of the State Statistical System, Study of Business Register, Study on Services Sector Statistics, Study of assessing the survey capabilities of the private sector, etc.
59TH National Sample Survey
The 59th round of the National Sample Survey on Household Consumer Expenditure and Employment/Unemployment situation reveals that the country had 957 females per 1000 males in the rural areas and 932 females per 1000 males in the urban sector. The average household size in rural India was 5.0 including 1.8 children per household. In urban India, the average household size was 4.5 with 1.3 children.
The Survey also revealed that at the all India level, three rural households per thousand and one urban household per thousand do not get enough to eat (by their own assessment) during any month of the year. 13 rural households per thousand and three urban household per thousand, however said they got enough to eat during some months of the year but not throughout.
Another important aspect thrown up by the Survey, is the shift of the workforce from agriculture to manufacturing and the tertiary sectors. Among the employed males and females, majority were engaged in the primary sector in the rural areas, while in the urban sector, majority were in the tertiary sector.
The Survey has thrown up another interesting feature relating to the money spent on consumption of pan, tobacco and intoxicants both by the rural and urban households. On all India basis the average expenditure of a person for 30 days on these three items, i.e. urban population spent Rs. 16.08 while their rural counterparts Rs.14.28.
Meghalaya tops the list with per person per 30-day expenditure on the consumption of pan, tobacco and intoxicants amounting to Rs.43.28. What is significant is that the figure emanated from the rural population of the State. Bihar accounted for the lowest expenditure with the rural people spending Rs.6.61, while the urbanites Rs.8.02.
GDP Estimates
GDP at constant (1993-94) prices for Q3 of 2004-05 is estimated at Rs. 4,11,907 crore, as against Rs. 3,87,910 crore in Q3 of 2003-04, showing a growth rate of 6.2 per cent.
The sectors which registered significant growth in Q3 of 2004-05 over Q3 of 2003-04 are ‘manufacturing’ 10.4 per cent; ‘construction’ 8.0 per cent; ‘trade, hotels, transport and communication’ 10.5 per cent; ‘financing, insurance, real estate and business services’ 8.1 per cent; and ‘community, social and personal services’ 5.8 per cent.
Estimates of GDP from agriculture in Q3 of 2004-05: khariff production of rice, coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds decreased by 7.5 per cent, 19.1 per cent, 11.2 per cent and 12.5 per cent, respectively. Production of cotton is, however, expected to rise by 15.9 per cent, while sugarcane is expected to decline by 1.1 per cent, during 2004-05 over the estimates of the previous year.
Per Capita Income
The Per Capita Income in real terms (i.e. 1993-94 prices) is estimated to attain a level of Rs.12,414 during the 2004-05 fiscal. The Quick Estimates by the Central Statistical Organisation had placed the per capita income at Rs.11,799 for the year 2003-04. According to the Advance Estimates just released by the CSO for the financial year, the growth rate in the per capita income was estimated at 5.2 per cent against 7.1 per cent in the previous year.
The National Income also known as the Net National Product at factor cost (i.e. 1993-94 prices) is estimated at Rs.13,54,385 crore during the 2004-05 fiscal, against the previous year’s Quick Estimate of Rs.12,66,005 crore. In terms of growth rates, the National Income is expected to rise by 7.0 per cent during 2004-05, compared to 9.0 per cent in the previous year.
project Monitoring
A separate Infrastructural Monitoring Division looks into the progress of implementation of over 300 Central, mega (above Rs.1000 crore) and major (above Rs.100 crore) projects. The monitoring systems have been streamlined further to check time-delays and cost over-runs, which has been a major concern of the Government. Monthly and bi-monthly reports are sent to the Government and the concerned Ministries and Departments to check time-delay and cost escalation.
Nodal Officer
The Government has decided that the Nodal Officers appointed for monitoring each central project will have continuity in tenure, i.e. he will stay put till the commissioning of the project. This is in a bid to check time-delay and cost-overrun. A number of these projects have been running behind schedule, leading to cost-overrun of more than 10 per cent.
The other steps taken to ensure timely completion of the Projects include adoption of a two stage clearance system; stricter appraisal of project before investment approval; taking up the projects for implementation only after funds have been fully tied up; inter-Ministerial coordination to resolve problems; fixing responsibility for time and cost over-runs; standardizing the bidding procedures and follow-up with the State governments especially for problems relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation and forest clearance, etc.
National Sample Survey Organisation
The National Sample Survey Organisation of the Ministry continues to play 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.
A new initiative of collecting environmental statistics has also been taken up for ultimately developing the Green GDP. Gender sensitization also forms part of the Ministry’s endeavour. Engendering statistics is also collected. This is necessary for finding solutions to social disparities.
Economic Census
A massive exercise has been taken up for preparing an Economic Census of the country. Its output will go a long way in drawing Social, Industrial and Economic planning at the National, State and District levels. The first phase of the census relating to training and selection of core team, etc. is over. The second phase has just begun. This time a Directory of units employing 10 persons is also being prepared.
Social Development Index
The process of collecting Social Statistics is underday. Various analytical and methodological studies were taken up for the preparation of the Social Development Index (SDI). Research studies have been taken up for meeting the data gaps in various sectors. A number of social sector related projects were carried out in collaboration with research institutions. The outcome of this was found highly useful in bridging the data gaps in the social sector.
Human Development Index
A Human Development Index (HDI) is under way in collaboration with the States. The Ministry is also in close touch with international organisations and institutions to maintain high standards of statistical activities especially those relating to HDI. Over 20 States of the country have brought out their HDI and the rest are expected shortly.
Data Handbook
A Hand Book on local level data-base for the use of rural, urban and local self-governments is progressing as per schedule. A system for maintaining a data-base of key indicators at Block level is also under progress. Till now, there was no system for maintaining data-base of key indicators at Block level. No reliable data is available for maternal mortality rates and morbidity rates for which a data-base of key indicators is essential.
National Statistical Communication
More recommendations of the National Statistical Commission have been put into effect. A number of recommendations have already been implemented for the improvement of social statistics. In this connection 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. Such initiatives are also underway in other sectors.
Millennium Development Goals
In 2002, a UN Summit set out the Millennium Development Goals with 18 targets and 48 indicators. Of these indicators, more than 35 were 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 to be brought out soon.
MPLADS
The guidelines for Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme are under revision. The Minister Shri Oscar Fernandes has taken the initiative to have meetings with the Members of Parliament from various States to know the problems that come in the way of effective implementation of MPLADS. The new draft guidelines will soon be ready. Accumulation of unutilized funds in MPLADS, has been of a great concern for the Government.
Tsunami Relief
Members from both Houses of Parliament have so far contributed over Rs.100 crore for relief and rehabilitation work in the Tsunami-hit areas of the country.
The Government had relaxed the guidelines of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme for the diversion of funds for rehabilitation in the Tsunami affected areas following their requests. The work permissible under the guidelines will alone be allowed for rehabilitation and the entire amount of Rs.2 crore can be contributed.
RK:LV:VN
PIB SF-9 (9.5.05)
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