Sixth Sense: 6th Economic Census Releases Key Data
Sixth Sense: 6th Economic Census Releases Key Data
The Sixth Economic Census was recently conducted by the government of India in 2013. The census is scheduled during the time between April and November each year. This is one of the most complex administrative research activities where establishments including those which are large/small, in public/private sector or household/non-household are enumerated. This is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% assistance from the Centre.
A brief history about the 6th Economic Census is as follows. The Central Scheme on Economic Census and Follow Up Surveys was formulated for the first time by India's CSO or Central Statistical Organisation in 1976. Since then, it has aimed to provide a list of complete establishments in the nation from which samples can be obtained for collecting detailed information using operational or economic variables with respect to any industrial sector. Information which is compiled on these parameters of the establishments of the nation include distribution at national and regional level as well as levels for the detailed and in-depth analysis of the economy's structure. Five such census have been conducted including 1977, 1980, 1990, 1998 and 2005.
This data is provided to the National Sample Survey Organisation for further surveys and it is also provided to non governmental organisations to analyse and understand the structure of various sectors as well as their functioning and contribution. The main objectives of the 6th EC were to provide detailed information on various operational variables such as crop production and defence for analysis and benchmarking purposes.
Another aim was to provide the Directory of Establishments employing 10 o more workers till ward or village level. This ws to be used as an input for the development of the National Business Register. As per the 6th Economic Census Report released in 2013, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of hired workers as compared to all other Indian states, This includes the segments such as education and health.
Data released as per the census report indicates that the percentage of hired lady workers in this north eastern state of Indian was 30.3%. The growth rate of the total number of persons employed all over India was pegged at 34.73% as compared to the data of the 5th Economic Census.
The 6th Economic Census was put together and organised by the Department of Economic and Statistics along with the district administration in the year 2013. The activities covered as part of this census have an 86% share in the total GDP of the nation.
Research needs to be conducted in many basic and applied areas of economics so that even the lay person knowns how to hit upon a winning combination whether he or she is just as investor or a business owner. Statistical data is important from the planning point of view as well. It is crystal clear that the 6th economic census and its (hopefully)future avatars will serve to enlighten and guide policy makers as well as the average person who wants to understand the state of the economy and development in the nation.
