Constructive criticism by media still bring some good effects in the country. This general perception, although having seen erosion of late, thankfully underwent augmentation with the news of the central government’s decision to constitute a 28-member Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES). This ‘face-saving exercise’ has been necessitated due to the ever-growing deluge of questions that are being raised in public sphere regarding the credibility of various economic data released officially and also in wake of an unprecedented trend of abrupt shelving of official reports that may reflect some distressing stories about the economy. This initiative should have been taken much earlier, especially keeping in mind the highly crucial technical role of the subject of statistics, which is also generally accepted as an authentic mirror of the nation’s economy.
That this image rebuilding move has been taken with much seriousness is clear from the composition pattern of the panel. It will be having representatives from the UN, RBI, Finance Ministry, NITI Aayog, industry chambers and economists and statisticians from several educational institutions. Besides being heterogeneous in character, it has been bestowed with sweeping powers to review the key data sets that track economic activities and trends of labour participation spread over all various sectors. It will not be hard to arrive at the reasons that led to this ‘drastic’ decision. There had been a series of allegations regarding wilful suppression of statistical data that are ‘uncomfortable’, along with delays and with questions regarding their veracity even. It can be recalled that in March this year, more than 100 economists and social scientists raised their voices with the appeal of restoration of institutional independence and integrity of the statistical organisations in the country which had enjoyed unflinching global reputation so far. Controversies that attracted wide attention   had been revision of GDP numbers and withholding employment data prepared by the government’s own    NSSO. The latest in the series had been National Statistical Office’s last month’s decision of shelving the survey data on consumer expenditure for 2017-18 that, after being leaked, actually showed that there has been a very disturbing downslide in consumer spending, the first of its kind in last four decades. The current economic situation, as of now, is showing no signs of revival and pulling it back on tracks is getting gradually difficult. In such a backdrop, importance of authentic economic indicators which are reflected by statistical data can well be gauged. But if there are allegations of ‘compromise’, credibility gets ruined and as a consequence, the hunt for solutions to the current economic woes will also get hampered.
The newly formed panel must be given a free hand in mirroring the actualities, however critical they emerge, and must necessarily be shielded from political interference.   

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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