NSS to focus on ayurveda, unani

After RBI governor D Subbarao complained recently that problems in important data were hampering effective policy making, the 66th round of the National Sample Survey is set to be repeated in the 68th round.This announcement was made by KP Unni Krishnan, deputy director general, zonal office, National Sample Survey Organisation, at a three-day workshop held for field officers.“There has been a lot of criticism of the findings in the 66th round, especially in consumer expenditure,” Unni Krishnan said. The data for this round was collected in 2009-10, and released in June this year.Among the more significant findings of this round were the huge disparities between incomes of the bottom and top segments of the population, with the poorer sections spending nearly half their income on food; also, the survey results showed that the growth of employment had been falling, causing commentators to remark about India’s ‘jobless growth’.Labour force participation had come down by 3% since the 61st round, for which data was collected in 2004-2005.The 68th round of the National Sample Survey, earmarked for surveys on ‘household consumer expenditure’ and ‘employment and unemployment’ has an added highlight this year.It will also record information on AYUSH, ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy to know how popular alternative medical systems are in the country.In 2009, when the 66th round survey was undertaken, the world faced an economic crisis and general deceleration. “Although India was not affected as much as some other countries, the general perception was that it wasn’t a good year,” Unni Krishnan said.Detailing the breakdown in labour force participation, Unni Krishnan said that the female labour participation rate had fallen by 6%, although the male labour force participation rate remained the same.“Policy makers are worried. These are findings that will impact macro-economics, especially in the estimation of the GDP,” Unni Krishnan said.