Congress Criticizes Government for Dissolving Standing Committee on Statistics

The Congress party has criticized the government for dissolving the Standing Committee on Statistics. Allegations suggest it was disbanded because members questioned the delay in the 2021 Census. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation claims the committee's work overlapped with the new Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.

The Congress has vehemently attacked the government following the dissolution of the Standing Committee on Statistics by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The move has sparked allegations that the committee was scrapped because its members repeatedly questioned the postponed 2021 Census.

A report published by The Hindu revealed that the 14-member committee, which was headed by eminent economist and former chief statistician Pronab Sen, was quietly disbanded. This action followed persistent inquiries by its members regarding the delayed Census.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, voiced his disapproval, questioning the rationale behind dissolving the committee. He stated that the delayed Census has deprived at least 10 crore Indians of ration benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. According to an email from Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General of the Ministry's National Sample Survey Office, the committee's work overlapped with that of the newly formed Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.

(With inputs from agencies.)