By Raman Jokhakar, Tarunkumar Singhal, Chartered Accountants
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41. Pay Rs.10k for wrong info in Govt. survey
You may soon have to give authentic socio-economic data
sought by the Government. And if you don’t, you may be fined.
The Rajya Sabha passed an important legislation making it
mandatory for citizens and commercial establishments to part with accurate
information during the annual survey. Accordingly, every individual in the
country and private establishment will have to share desired information with a
designated statistical officer, else they will have to pay penalty which may, in
certain cases, extend up to Rs.10,000.
The Collection of Statistics Bill — introduced in the RS in
2007 — also provides for empowering the Centre to make rules to avoid
duplication and to maintain technical standard in data collection, which is
currently lacking during the annual survey in the absence of any legal backing.
Before pressing the House to pass the Bill, Union Minister
for Statistics and Programme Implementation G. K. Vasan said : “The new law will
have elaborate provisions to ensure that the information collected will not be
used for any purpose other than for statistical purpose. Identities of
individuals or companies will not be revealed to anyone during use/transfer of
such data within Government agencies which may need it for policy making.”
As against the existing law which only facilitates collection
of statistics of certain kinds relating to industries, trade and commerce, the
new law will empower the Government to collect data on economic, demographic,
social, scientific and environmental aspects of individuals and households.
Though the Government has been collecting such data under the National Sample
Survey, it is done voluntarily.
Stating the purpose of such a legislation, Vasan said : “It
is felt that the provisions of the current law are not adequate to meet the new
challenges arising out of liberalisation and globalisation regime manifested by
the WTO agreement.”
The Bill also has the provision of empowering panchayats and
municipalities to collect statistics through due procedures. Once the new law
comes into force, the Government will appoint statistical officers for each
subject of data collection at the district and block levels.
(Source : The Times of India, dated 20-12-2008)
