Tezpur: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Kumar Jena has urged the states to finalize their state statistical plan early. This will enable speedy implementation of Rs. 650 crores India Statistical Strengthening Project (ISSP). Jena was speaking at the opening ceremony of the new centre of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) at Tezpur in Assam on Saturday. The Minister said, for effective and quality statistics at national level, we need to have a sound statistical infrastructure in each State, as State statistics do form the basis for all statistical analysis and planning at both Centre & State level. With increased inroads of IT in our lives, we need to use more and more of IT tools and techniques in data collection, data management and data dissemination. Towards this Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has already taken steps for e-collection of industrial and price data. Similarly, comprehensive e-system for data dissemination in a user friendly manner is being developed. E-publications are likely to become a norm soon.

Jena said, in light of increasing globalization with its concomitant influence in economic and social arena, the need for pertinent statistical information in these sectors has gained significance. This requires adequate strengthening of the national statistical system to gear up its statistical capability and infrastructure for meeting the growing challenges of providing a wide range of information on key economic, social, demographic and environment statistics. In this background, the role of ISI becomes more prominent in further improving the quality of statistics available in the country, to not only tackle the policy issues but to also ensure that the measures of economic activity capture the varying pattern of inputs and outputs.

The Minister said, the Indian statistical system is undergoing steady transformation in response to new challenges arising out of the globalization and liberalization of our economy. It involves many significant structural and operational changes in the statistical system both at the Centre and States. The India Statistical Strengthening Project is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 650.43 crores, with 80% being funded through a World Bank Loan and the balance 20% being borne by the Government of India. The objective of ISSP is to strengthen and improve the State statistical systems and statistical operations in accordance with prescribed standards in terms of quality, timeliness, adequacy, relevance, utility, user-friendliness and user-satisfaction. The programme is already under implementation in four States. All other States including the North Eastern (NE) States are at various stages of finalization of the State Strategic Statistical Plan (SSSP). He said, Mizoram and Sikkim are in an advanced stage of finalizing the MOU to be signed with the Ministry and he expects early initiation of the project in these States.

The Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also addressed the opening ceremony.