Must pool central,state survey samples: Jaiswal

Pitching for the pooling of central and state samples for providing reliable estimates at the district level,minister for programme implementation and statistics Sriprakash Jaiswal has said the state governments as well as local bodies were interested in such estimates for decentralised planning at their level.

Addressing a seminar to announce the results of the 63rd Round of National Sample Survey,he said it was revealed that of the nearly 1.65 crore service sector enterprises estimated to be working during 2006-07,60 per cent were in rural and 40 per cent in urban India with Uttar Pradesh having the highest share (14 per cent) followed by West Bengal (13 per cent),Andhra Pradesh (10 per cent),Maharashtra (9 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (7 per cent) together accounting for 53 per cent of firms at all-India level. According to the report,about 3.35 crore people were estimated to be working in service sector firms during 2006-07,with Uttar Pradesh topping the list (12 per cent),Andhra Pradesh (11 per cent),Maharashtra (10 per cent) and West Bengal (10 per cent). The top five states accounted for 52 per cent of total workers of the service sector. Female workers constituted roughly 29 per cent of the total workforce in service sector enterprises.

The survey pointed out that in the well being index,the northern states of Punjab,Haryana and Delhi are the best,while eastern and central India are “markedly worse” than the rest. Similarly,the survey seeks to qualify the female security index implying the well being,status and treatment of women. The analysis of well being vividly illustrated the diversity and disparity across districts,often within the same state. “Clearly insights on district parameters and trends should be the foundation for action,planning and effective performance. This applies to all players — policy makers,NGOs or a business house,” the survey said.