B R Lachotra
Prof. P.C Mahalanobis is generally known as father of Indian statistics. He played a vital role both in academic side as well as builder of Indian statistical institutes. Besides being a Pioneer in application of statistical techniques to solve practical problems, he is considered as architect of formulation of Indian 2nd five years plan and developing statistics was like exploring new territory/area.
Prof. P.C Mahalanobis was from well off family in Calcutta. Prof. P.C Mahalanobis did Bachelors Degree in Science with Honors in Physics from Calcutta university and then left for England and joined Cambridge university. As a student Prof. P.C Mahalanobis never confined to his subject books only. He was interested in various subjects viz. Philosophy, Physiology, Astronomy, Architecture etc. having varied experience.
Statistics Day
Prof. P.C Mahalanobis first joined Presidency College in 1915 as a temporary Professor. In 1922 Mahalanobis became Asst. Professor of Physics and taught Physics for 33 years (1915-1948) in Presidency College and also held the post of Meteorologist in the Alipore Observatory in Calcutta from 1922 to 1926.
Mahalanobis was not only pioneering researcher in statistics and allied disciplines but was also known as a planner, educationist and visionary. Infact, he was considered as one of the architects of post independence era. As first Indian elected member of the Econometric Society, Mahalanobis was appointed as chairman of National Income Committee in 1946 and remained closely connected with the development of operational statistics in India in the early Post Independence period. His work and thinking in terms of official and regional statistics were pragmatic and visionary. He was instrumental for the collection of Socio-Economic sample data covering the entire country to address administrative exigency of the govt. In 1950, for planning purposes a future oriented Harrod-Domar type of Model which was described as single sector model of Mahalanobis comprising of Investment per Capita Income and its growth as core ingredients was developed. His writings also exhibit that he was more concerned with correlation rather than casual interaction/discussion. Mahalanobis was also conscious of socio-economic inequalities in Indian society. In the later stage of his career, Prof. Mahalanobis made fundamental contribution to development of non-parametric regression with large data.
Mahalanobis was more comfortable with planning and national accounts identities. In operationalizing the single and two sector Planning Model; Mahalanobis estimated key structural parameters using average of time series data across many countries “to concretize his ideas on the rate of investment and rate of growth of national income in India”. While working as national income committee Mahalanobis became aware of National Problems, National resources and Allied Matters. In fact the issue of social justice remained major concern of Mahalanobis throughout his career motivating him in consonance with so called “Nehru-Mahalanobis” ideology to view statistics as a key technology for bringing social change.
The theme for celebration of 17th statistics day on 29th of JUNE 2023 is “alignment of state indicator Frame work with national indicator Frame work for monitoring of sustainable development goals” which is very relevant in Indian context.
The Ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MSDPI) played a key role by finalizing indicators which are relevant to the development of country in participatory mode taking all stake-holders into confidence. The set of indicators were deliberated with all stake holders including state/UTs. The Govt. of India constituted a High Level Steering Committee under chairpersonship of Chief Statistics of India and Secy. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation which includes members from NITI AAYOG and selective Ministries to revisit the NIF periodically. These were further discussed in the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for sustainable Dev. Goals under the chairmanship of Director General, National Statistical office, MOSPI on 13th march 2020 and ultimately recommendation of TAC were placed before High Level Steering committee (HLSC) for final approval.
The present version of sustainable Dev. Goals (National Indicator Framework 2022) comprises of 286 National indicators. The national indicators framework plays a pivotal role for monitoring of sustainable Dev. Goals at national level besides issuing direction to policy makers as well as implementation of various schemes/flagship programmes etc.
The commitment of Govt. of India given the federal governance structure where sizeable number of functions that have bearing on sustainable development goals fall within the purview of states/UTs. Besides focus of sustainable Dev. Goals is on equality, inclusion justice and basic Principal of “leave no one behind” in the country. Therefore states/UTs have the prime responsibility in achieving sustainable Dev. Goals and implementation of agenda 2030 in mission mode.
As per the direction of MOSPI, as well as NITI AAYOG like other parts of the country J&K UT has also taken timely initiatives for preparing and adopting sustainable development goals including visualization of goals target prioritization, indicators selection, schemes and comprehensive monitoring systems etc. The UT Indicator Framework on the analogy of National Indicator Framework on sustainable development have been/being prepared under the guidance of Apex committee headed by chief secy. In consonance with the instructions of MOSPI, NITI AAYOG Planning Dev. and Monitoring Deptt. is Nodal Deptt. and Directorate of Economics & Statistics UT J&K, Nodal Agency for SDGs and such committees are also being formulated at District and Block levels. As per availability of data 216 indicators covering 81 targets have also been shortlisted under J&K UT as of now. Mapping of all targets has also been done. Planning Dev. and Monitoring Deptt. UT J&K is in advanced stage of preparation of “SDG progress report2022”, which in accordance with MOSPI, GOI (NIF) released on 29th June 2021 on Statistical Day. J&K UT is also in the process of creation of sustainable development goal dashboard.
There is no two opinions that alignment of State Indicators Framework with National Indicators Framework for monitoring of sustainable development goals is very essential rather inevitable but it is incidental to generation of adequate quality data both at State/UTs and National levels. We are still considering the figures of 2011 census or prior to it for policy planning as no census figures after it are available on various dimensions of the economy. The lack of updated quantity and quality data is one of the main bottlenecks to ensure optimum utilization of resources, achievement of sustainable development goals as well as inclusive growth. The main concern of inequality of Prof. P.C Malanaobis is yet to be fully addressed in the country. Immediate conduct of the census which was due in 2021 needs to be considered for implementation of sustainable goals effectively, addressing various dimensions of economy, proper implementation of schemes/programmes as per ground realities besides ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. The revival of institution of Planning Commission after proper revamping need to be revisited as NITI AAYOG is not the perfect substitution of the former.
(The author is former Director General Economics & Statistics, J&K)
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