Lies and Damn Lies

Your editorial on ‘ a poverty of statistics’ ( June 30,2011) is very timely and most appropriate. Policy decisions based on false data are perhaps one of the reasons for all ills of the economy viz; high inflation, black money, inequality of income, unemployment, poor GDP growth, poverty levels etc. The strength of the country’s Information Technology has not been fully exploited to improve the data base of the economy and there is a growing feeling that people below poverty line do not reflect the correct position. Even the number of people paying taxes and filing return do not compare well with the welfare of people and luxury exhibited by many particularly after the liberalization of the economy in early 1990s.
The data on the economic activities and income levels of people particularly under self employed categories do not seem to be correctly reflecting in employment and poverty levels. The economic liberalization has improved the earnings of many particularly in urban semi-urban and metropolitan centres and both skilled and unskilled labourers are not available in many parts of the economy. Distribution of income in terms of economic activities though has improved, but where it reflects in terms of employment and poverty level is a matter of serious concern. It is time some serious attention is paid to capture the data on earnings, employment and poverty level of people so that policy decisions on subsidies, taxation, inflation and welfare of people can be better targeted and achieved.
T.V.Gopalakrishnan
The edited version of this came in 1st July 2011