Detailed
Note on Major Divisions of Directorate of Economics &
Statistics and Their Work
1. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGENCY FOR REPORTING AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS (EARAS)
It
is a 50% centrally assisted scheme (plan) Kerala is one
of the three States (West Bengal, Orissa, Kerala) in India
where a comprehensive system of land records has not been
in existence, hence called a Non-land record State. Government
of India in the Ministry of Agriculture has declared Directorate
of Economics & Statistics as State Agricultural Statistics
Authority (SASA). The scheme envisaged the collection of
data for estimating area and production for each agricultural
year by doing crop cutting experiments in selected zones
which is a panchayat or one or more panchayats. The object
of the scheme is to prepare annual statistics of land use,
area and production of crops at district level.
Crop estimation survey for the major crops are also being
conducted under this scheme. In addition to the above three
minor crops also are selected for crop estimation survey
(CES) every year by rotation.
Data required by the National Insurance Company for implementing
the Crop Insurance Scheme of Govt. Of India are also given
by this Dept. by conducting crop-cutting experiments on
Paddy.
2. AGRICULTURAL CENSUS
This is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme. The main
objectives of agricultural census are
i). to arrive at a distribution
of operational holdings by size class and to assess the
incidence of various tenure systems.
ii). to study the pattern of land use
and the area under different crops
iii). to study the agriculture practices and
inputs used in cultivation, specifically to estimate the
quantity and type of fertilizers and manure used, extent
of irrigated area along with the sources of irrigation.
Agricultural Census is carried out on All India basis once
in 5 years since 1970-71. In all the states except Kerala,
West Bengal and Orissa (Non-land record States) the agricultural
census envisages re-tabulation of the data available on
the land records. The methods of sample census is adopted
in the above mentioned 3 States.
The sixth in the series is the present one with base year
1995-96. The main census with objectives (i) and (ii) have
already been completed and the data has been given to Government
of India. A quick Tabulation Report has been brought out.
The tabulation of input survey objectives (iii) is being
completed.
3. COST OF CULTIVATION SURVEY
The scheme for conducting cost of cultivation survey
was initiated in 1979-80.
The survey intends to find out the cost of cultivation of
the major crops and few minor crops covered in EARAS. This
survey is spread out in 38 Taluks. From the Taluks zones
are selected. Plots are selected from the zones as per
the list available from EARAS (that of the previous year).
Thus cultivators are also listed from the selected plots.
The data collected from this survey are used for the successful
implementation of various schemes in the Agricultural sector,
required to draw up realistic plans for the development
of various crops, diversification of cropping patterns and
maximization of net returns from them. Moreover these data
are used by the States and Central Governments to fix floor
support prices for agricultural commodities-paddy and coconut.
4. ECONOMIC CENSUS
Economic census is aimed at providing basic information
on distribution of non-agricultural enterprises and follow-up
surveys for collection of detailed information about the
structure of enterprises, investment, input, output, employment,
etc. It is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
The first countrywide Economic Census was carried out in
India in 1977 followed by the second in 1980, third in 1990
and the fourth in 1998.
The fourth Economic Census covered non-agricultural enterprises
in the unorganised sector. All the data required by the
Government of India have been completed and given The next
report is being finalised
6. ANNUAL SURVEY OF INDUSTRIES
The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is the principal source
of data on various aspects of registered establishments
classified under manufacturing, electricity, gas & water
supply and repair & services. The Field Operations
Division (FOD) of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO)
carries out the field work of the survey and CSO consolidates
the results at national level.The survey covers broadly
the following 3 types of units
(1) Units registered under section 2m(i) and
2m(ii) of the Factories Act 1948.
2m(i) Units employing 10 or more workers and using power
2m(ii) Units employing 20 or more workers and not using
power.
(2) Electricity undertaking registered with
Central Electricity Authority
(3) Beedi and Cigar Establishments which are
registered under Beedi & Cigar Workers Act 1966.
The factories included in the survey are grouped into two
sectors viz. Census and Sample Sectors.
Census Sector: Units employing 50 or more workers
with power and those employing 100 or more workers without
power.
Sample Sector: All the other units.
Units coming under census sector are enumerated completely
and only a small sample is selected from sample sector.
Hence we are not in a position to have a district wise estimate.
CSO has asked this department to do the survey on the residual
units also.
7. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (IIP)
IIP measures the impact of development in the field of industrial
sector over a period of time in the state. The Index covers
production in the manufacturing and electricity generation
sectors in the state.
The indices are calculated quarterly from the year 1975-76
with base 1970 and from the year 1988-89 with the base year
1980-81. The shift of base year to 1993-94 is being done.
The data are collected from a sample under the frame of
Annual Survey of Industries, on the assumption that this
sample contributes the major share of the value added by
the manufacturing sector.
8.
LABOUR
A number of labour legislation were enacted for the purpose
of providing a healthier, safer and more pleasant environment
for workmen and improving their productivity. Among them
Factories Act, 1948, Payments of Wages Act, 1936 and Industrial
Disputes Act 1967 have a significant role to perform in
regulating and controlling the welfare amenities of the
factory workers and employers. The data collected under
the Labour Legislation excluding the above enactment are
supportive for the effective labour administration and provide
significant indicators of economic development.
The labour unit of the department continued to engage in
the collection, tabulation and analysis of data under the
above enactment and the preparation of reports for dissemination.
The returns (Annual and Half Yearly) under Factories Act
which are statutory in nature are collected from the Factory
units registered under Section 2 m(i), Section 2m (ii) and
section 85 of the Act. Under the payment of wages Act the
factory management are required to furnish the annual returns
(From IV) containing the relevant information relating to
the workers in the factories earning less than Rs.1600/-
p.m. The non-statutory returns (monthly) under Industrial
Disputes Act relating to work stoppage, closure, retrenchment
etc. Are collected from the establishments where industrial
disputes are prevailing. The returns under the Factories
Act and Payment of Wages Act are received through the Directorate
of Factories and Boilers in this directorate where further
processing of the data is done and the tabulated data furnished
to the Labour Bureau. The monthly returns under the Industrial
Disputes Act are collected through the District Labour Officers/
Chief Inspector of plantations and monthly reports forwarded
to the Labour Bureau. Apart from them, other items of work
concerning Maternity Benefit Act are also attended to by
the Labour Unit.
9. WAGE STRUCTURE SURVEY
This Department started this survey in the State in
1963-64.
The trend in wage rates for different kinds of skilled and
unskilled labourers in the construction sector and of the
paid employees in the trade and commerce sector has been
the subject of the study of the survey.
10.
HOUSING
The Housing Statistics Cell was set up in the Directorate
of Economics and Statistics in 1967. It guides and co-ordinates
the working of the housing cell functioning in the Public
Works Department and in the Directorate of Municipalities,
and also collects data directly from the three City Corporations
in the State. In addition to this data on prices of building
materials and wage rates in the housing construction sector
are also collected and published. This information on house
construction activities is very useful for the formulation
of housing policies.
11. NATIONAL SAMPLE SURVEY
After the attainment of Independence, the need for reliable
statistical data on various aspect of the economic and social
life in the country was keenly felt by planners and administrators.
The standing committee of the Department of Statistics set
up in 1948 and the National Income Committee appointed in
1949, found large gaps in the statistical information available
in the country. With a view to bridge this gap, the Indian
National Sample Survey (N.N.S) was organised in 1950 under
the initiative of late Prof. P.C.Mohalanob and since its
inspection the N.S.S has thrown up a large volume of data
on a continuing basis through country wide surveys based
on principle of sampling.
Although initially it was envisaged that NSS should concentrate
on collecting data to fill up the gaps in statistics required
for national income estimation, gradually the scope has
widened to meet the needs of planning. NSS has now completed
57 rounds of surveys covering a wide range of socio economic
subjects such as agriculture, industry, consumer expenditure,
employment, live stock, debts & investments etc.
The NSS consists of a Central Sample and an equal matching
sample known as state sample. Field work of Central Sample
is done by NSSO and the field work & processing of state
sample by state DES.
58th round NSS is being done and earmarked for
collection of data on disability, housing condition, village
facilities and slum particulars besides that on household
consumer expenditure and employment-unemployment.
12. EVALUATION
The evaluation wing was started in 1973. Evaluation
Division conducts annual Evaluation Study of the schemes
implemented by the soil conservation department in all districts.
13. PLANNING CO-ORDINATION AND PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS
The planning unit is responsible for the preparation
of Annual Plan and five-year plans of the department and
reviewing the progress of implementation of these schemes.
Publication division is responsible for printing and supply
of reports prepared by various divisions of the Directorate
and also the schedules and instructions required for the
various surveys. Preparation of general publications is
one of the main functions of this division. There is small
RISO Printing Press working in the Department.
This division co-ordinates the LA Interpellation, matter
for subject committee of the legislature etc. Co-ordination
meeting of the heads of statistical units functioning in
other Department is also convened regularly once in a year.
14. VITAL STATISTICS
The Vital Statistics unit of this Department continued
to engage in the collection, compilation, tabulation and
analysis of data on births and deaths for publication of
Vital Statistics of the State. The data generated through
civil registration under the Registration of Births and
Death Act, 1969 are collected. The Chief Registrar of Births
and Deaths is the Director of Panchayat s and Additional
Chief Registrar of Birth and death is Additional Director
of this Department. The District Panchayat officers are
the District Registrars. The commissioners of Municipalities
and Corporations are empowered with powers of the District
Registrars. In Corporations Health Officers are appointed
as Local Registrars and in Municipalities and Guruvayoor
Township, the senior most Health Inspectors are the Local
Registrars. In the rural area the Executive Officers of
the Panchayats function as the Local Registrars for the
purpose of civil registration. The Local Registrars furnish
the details of births and deaths in the prescribed forms
regularly to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics
where further processing of the data on vital events (births
and deaths) is carried out.
Survey on Census of death (rural) survey on medical certification
of cause of death and sport check survey are also conducted
by this Division
15. SAMPLE REGISTRATION
The objective of the scheme is to collect quick and
reliable data for the estimation of vital rates. This scheme
has been found necessary because of the incompleteness of
the civil registration data. In Kerala the survey in the
rural sector is being conducted by the Directorate of Economics
and Statistics and in urban sector by the Census Department
of Government of India.
In Kerala the survey is being conducted in 150 selected
rural samples.
16. PRICES SECTION
Collection of the various types of prices and computation
of price indices have been a regular item of work of this
Department. There has been an increasing demand for the
price data from various quarters like, Central and State
Government Departments, Institutions, Researches, etc.
The price collection work is being carried out by a network
of staff spread over the entire state. Preparation of monthly
Consumer Price Index for Agricultural and Industrial works
is one of the major works of this division. This division
collects data for preparation of daily price bulletin for
broadcast through All India Radio. Preparation of wholesale
price index and parity index are also done by this division.
Retail prices and wholesale prices of various commodities
are collected from different centers for the preparation
of various daily, weekly and monthly reports.
17. FAMILY BUDGET SURVEY
State Government have accorded sanction for the shift of
the base year for preparation of Consumer Price Index from
1970 = 100 to 1998-99 = 100. Accordingly Government have
constituted a "Committee of Direction" having
members from Industrial workers and Officials. On the basis
of the direction given by the committee, this department
conducted a Family Budget Survey in selected centers spread
over in the state collecting data from selected families.
The report has been submitted to Government and State Government
has accepted the report. Subsequently the linking factor
to link the new series to old series has been worked out
and Government was pleased to accord sanction to publish
the new series with 1998-99 base vide GO (MS) No.7/2002/Plg,
Dated 21-03-2002.
Now this Department is publishing the Consumer Price Indices
with new base year w.e.f October 2000. The latest index
numbers are appended separately.
18. SURVEYS AND STUDIES
The survey and design division is meant for conducting
ad-hoc surveys taking in to account the significance of
such surveys over the relevant periods. Sample survey on
the Activity Status of Registrants in the Live Register
of Employment Exchanges is being completed. All the Employment
Exchanges in the State are covered and 5% of the total registrants
(2 lakhs) are selected for the survey. The report would
be released shortly.
19. STATE INCOME
The State Income division has been computing estimates
of State Domestics Product from 1955 onwards, according
to the standard methodology issued by the Central Statistical
Organization. The work relating to the economic classification
of State expenditure including Government undertakings and
local bodies and preparation of standard tables on regional
accounts and capital formation are also undertaken from
1978 onwards.
20. COMPUTER DIVISION
This Department has a well-built Computer division.
All the District Offices also has computer units.
Most of the schedules collected through various sources
are being processed in this Division/Unit.
There is no networking between the Directorate and the District
Offices, which affects the data transfer. Similarly there
is no E-mail facility also. The need of the hour is the
regular/timely upgradation of the hardware and software.
Similarly regular refresher courses for the computer personnel
are also required.
The software (data entry, validation and processing) required
for us are prepared indigenously by our own staff. Some
are PGDCAs and some are undergoing MCA. They have taken
the degree by their own. The data entry work of main surveys
like Economic Census, Agricultural Census, etc. was successfully
undertaken by this Department.
21.
LIBRARY/DOCUMENTATION CENTRE
This
department has a Library having 6000 old books, periodicals
and journals. Main difficulty is that of space. An information
counter is functioning in the department to cater the needs
of data users, researchers etc.
22. ADMINISTRATION
This
division consists of Establishment, Accounts, Store Purchase,
Budget, Tapals and Fair copy sections.
