Govt to conduct Economic Census in 2012

Govt to conduct Economic Census in 2012

The govt will launch an economic census next year involving collection of data from entrepreneurial units in the country with a view to help in micro level planning and policy formulations, specially in the unorganised sector.

The Sixth Economic Census would be conducted as a Central Sector Plan and would take place during January to June 2012, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) said in a statement on Friday.

"The Central Government plans to conduct the Sixth Economic Census as a Central Sector Plan Scheme during 2012. MOSPI plans to carry out the fieldwork of this census during January-June 2012, in collaboration with all state and union territory governments," it said.

The Fifth Economic Census was conducted in 2005. Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation M S Gill has reviewed the plan of action for conducting the census.

"The census would involve collection of data from entrepreneurial units in the country. Data on sectoral activity of the unit, number of workers, social group of the owner, female-owned enterprise among others would be collected for micro level planning and policy formulations with respect to various economic activities," it said.

According to MOSPI, the unorganised sector in the country has assumed greater importance, with a significant contribution in the GDP and employment generation due to emergence of services in the post-liberalisation era.

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) in its third report on condition of workers in the sector submitted in 2007, has said that 86 percent of the country’s workforce or 394.9 million workers form part of the unorganised sector.

"As a result of economic liberalisation, it is essential to study this particular sector which might have led to structural and compositional changes more rapidly in the recent years," MOSPI said.

It added that the database gathered during the census would enable policy makers and analysts to assess the impact of the economic liberalisation process on entrepreneurial activities, especially in the unorganised sector.

"The data at lower geographical levels like tehsil/ village in case of rural areas, and wards in the case of urban areas, would also be a valuable input for local level planning required under 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments," it said.

The data on number and distribution of entrepreneurial units is also expected to provide framework for undertaking follow-up statistical sample surveys for assessing the individual contribution of various industrial sectors in the country's GDP.

For proper implementation of the census, directions have been issued by MOSPI to prepare detailed activity-wise plan of action and need for engaging qualified personnel for collection of data, supervision and imparting training.

"A proper publicity plan will be mounted to create public awareness to elicit correct information and co-operation from the respondents of the census," it said.