Improve Data collection at all levels

The editorial ‘Data Distortions-Our policy makers are whistling on the dark’(Business line dated 16/4/14) is very apt and deserves very serious attention from Statisticians, Administrators, surveyors and policy makers at all levels of various institutions, State and Central Governments. The former RBI Governor Dr Subbarao was harping on the poor quality of data every now and then and it is unfortunate to observe that it has not captured the attention it deserved of the powers that be and the results thrown out on the economic front and the policy measures taken on that basis are topsy -turvy reflecting very poorly on the economic indicators and welfare of the people. Whether it is GDP growth, Industrial or agricultural production, exports, imports, employment, inflation, power generation, distribution, sales tax , income tax collection , number of assessees under different taxes, wealth generation by the nation or individuals, etc do not reflect the actual position and there is only gross underestimation of all important information adversely affecting the nation, economy and the people in different ways. It is time data collection is given utmost importance by the new Government which itself will give a big boost to GDP growth as many economic activities carried out by many segments in the society do not get reflected properly giving rise to lower estimates of goods and services, tax collections, and employment particularly self employment. If the data collection is more or less accurate, the country can save a lot on subsidies is not an exaggeration and the finances of the Government would look far far  better.

Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan    

(This comment is given to BL in response to the editorial Data Distortion dated 16/4/14).