Bhubaneswar: The 19th National Statistics Day was observed by the Directorate of Economics & Statistics under the Planning & Convergence Department at the State Convention Center of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Gracing the occasion Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg emphasised the need for a robust statistical system to monitor progress toward the targets of Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047. Highlighting the Subhadra scheme as an example, she stated that the state has developed a comprehensive database to support data-driven implementation of beneficiary schemes.
In his inaugural address, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja laid out a vision to transform Odisha’s statistical system into a state-of-the-art framework.
“The system should function like a mirror, reflecting the socio-economic progress of the state, identifying gaps, and guiding future policy,” he said. He also stressed the importance of institutional capacity building to sustain this vision.
Director, Economics & Statistics, Dr. Bijay Bhusan Nanda acknowledged the government’s continued support in strengthening the statistical infrastructure and noted recent modernisation initiatives undertaken by the Directorate.
The keynote speaker, Ashish Kumar, Former Director General of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, underscored the role of the National Statistical Office (NSO) in generating periodic data for the unorganised sector. He highlighted the collaboration between the NSO and state agencies in collecting and utilising reliable data for policy and planning.
As part of the celebrations, several digital initiatives were unveiled, including a dynamic and interactive website of the Directorate, the SDG Dashboard for Odisha, and a web portal for data collection using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) survey tools. Additionally, the 7th Minor Irrigation Census, 1st Census of Major & Medium Irrigation Projects, 2nd Census of Water Bodies, and the 1st Census of Springs in the state were formally launched.
The Directorate also released key publications, including the annual ‘Samikhya,’ Women & Men in Odisha 2024, District Statistical Handbooks 2024, Report on Annual Survey of Industries, and Report on Index of Industrial Production.
The event saw participation from senior officials and statistical personnel from across departments, including representatives from all 30 District Planning & Monitoring Units, and faculty and students from academic institutions.
Coinciding with the celebrations, a three-day workshop on the Estimation of District Domestic Product: Approach, Methodology, and Challenges was inaugurated. Delegates from the Directorates of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka shared their experiences, with Ashish Kumar leading discussions and providing expert insights.
