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Talks on for WB's Rs 8 billion loan for statistical system overhaul

The World Bank and the Indian government are negotiating a loan for modernisation of the statistical system involving an assistance of Rs 8 billion for a period of three years.

The loan under discussion is for massive training in information technology, hardware and improvement of data collection. The project will involve improvement of data collection at the field level.

This was stated by secretary, department of statistics, M D Asthana at a news conference in New Delhi where he outlined the steps his department has taken for modernisation of the statistical system in the country.

Asthana said his department has embarked on a large and prestigious project in this regard. The primary objective of the programme is to improve the reliability, timeliness and coverage aspects of the data collection, processing, dissemination and transmission systems. It is also intended under this project to improve the institutional efficiency and effectiveness of the national statistical system.

Asthana said the inital discussions regarding the World Bank loan have been held. The bank was enthusiastic that the statistical database be improved.

Asthana said the data required to be submitted to the International Monetary Fund regarding gross domestic product will be submitted in time in December 1998.

''Numerous innovative steps have been taken by the department to meet the various commitments and obligations under the IMF's special data dissemination standards. The department is also hopeful of meeting and honouring the government's commitment to the SDDS, for the benefit of users and advance release calenders for various designated data categories will also be announced of disseminated in future,'' Asthana said.

The secretary said the department in future will not indulge in the ''cardinal sin'' of forecasting the economic parametres. This job is left to professional economists and organisations like the National Council of Applied Economic Research.

Asthana did not think there would be any budgetary constraint for providing the programme of modernisation of the statistical system.

The secretary said a World Bank project called ''Development of Integrated System of Regional Accounts for States and Union Territories'' is currently under implementation. The state governments have been provided computer hardware and software needed for upgrading their compilation procedure with regard to state accounts.

Asthana said significant improvements have been made with regard to the collection, processing and dissemination of data concerning the annual survey of industries.

Improvements have also been made relating to the index of industrial production. The CSO has been providing all the necessary technical help to the states for the purpose of compilation of comparable state-level IIPs.

Asthana said a major part of the background work needed for revision of the now existing National Industrial Classification 1987 has since been completed. A consolidated draft, Revised NIC 1998 has been prepared after extensive consultations with various ministeries, departments and organisations concerned.

UNI