National Statistics Office (NSO) conference

The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), held the Data User Conference on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 today. This important event took place at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune and focused on engaging data users and stakeholders to discuss the future of labour data in India.

Conference Participation and Virtual Attendance

Around 150 participants from Central Ministries, Departments, academic institutions, international organizations, and others attended the conference in person. Additionally, approximately 2200 participants joined the event live through YouTube, making it a widely attended event.

Keynote Speeches and Special Guests

The conference was graced by Dr. Vijay Kelkar, an economist and former President of the Indian Statistical Institute, who served as the Chief Guest. Other notable figures included Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI, and Dr. Ajit Ranade, Vice Chancellor of GIPE, who delivered special addresses during the event. Senior officials from MoSPI and representatives from important international organizations were also present.

Opening Remarks by Dr. Saurabh Garg

In his opening remarks, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI, emphasized the use of technology to improve survey effectiveness. He highlighted the use of Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) under the E-Sigma platform, which allows real-time access to data through the cloud. This innovation has enhanced data collection efficiency, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat, or a developed India.

Dr. Garg also stressed the importance of increasing female labour force participation and encouraged collaboration with academic institutions to improve data handling practices. He noted that using advanced techniques like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning will further modernize data collection and analysis. He also introduced the eSankhyiki portal, which aims to centralize access to vital national statistical data.

Address by Dr. Ajit Ranade

Dr. Ajit Ranade, Vice Chancellor of GIPE, spoke about the role of labour data in shaping economic research and policy. He pointed out that while India’s economy is growing, creating high-quality jobs is still a challenge. Dr. Ranade emphasized the importance of labour market data to help understand employment trends, particularly in the context of the gig economy. He noted that accurate data is essential for comparing India’s economy with international standards and addressing issues like wage stagnation.

Dr. Vijay Kelkar on the Importance of PLFS

As the Chief Guest, Dr. Vijay Kelkar highlighted the strategic importance of the PLFS in shaping employment policies and labour reforms. He also discussed how climate change is a pressing challenge and proposed including Green GDP metrics in the economic analysis to reflect the sustainability of economic activities. Dr. Kelkar emphasized the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in enhancing productivity and innovation in the workforce.

Technical Sessions and Panel Discussions

Following the inaugural session, the conference featured two technical sessions:

Survey Instruments and Key Results
Understanding Unit Level Data for Tabulation Using Multiplier & Data Quality Enhancement

These sessions provided an in-depth look into the tools and methods used in the PLFS and how they can be applied to better understand India’s labour market.

Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement

A panel discussion on “Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement through Data” was held, where experts discussed how to make PLFS data more useful for various sectors. The panellists emphasized the importance of communicating survey findings clearly and working with different stakeholders, from policymakers to researchers. They suggested using Management Information Systems (MIS) to track labour market trends and adopting high-frequency data collection methods to monitor changes in employment dynamics. This would help refine data collection processes and improve decision-making.

Additionally, the panel highlighted the need for more detailed data on disability, social security benefits, and labour market trends at the sub-state level to ensure that policy decisions are informed by the most accurate information.

Interactive Sessions and Q&A

During the interactive sessions, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts on the PLFS results. The Q&A session was particularly engaging, with students asking about topics like district-level estimates and access to specific datasets. These discussions helped clarify various aspects of the survey and provided valuable feedback for improving future surveys.

Closing Remarks and Commitments

The conference concluded with a strong commitment to using PLFS data to shape evidence-based labour policies. The attendees agreed that continued dialogue between data producers and users is key to maximizing the impact of survey results on policymaking and socio-economic development.

To access the full PLFS 2023-24 report and unit-level data, visit the official MoSPI website at www.mospi.gov.in.

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