India Statistical Strengthening Project (ISSP) is a comprehensive Project of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India, designed to strengthen State Statistical Systems by way of providing adequate technical and financial support to improve their statistical capacity and infrastructure for collecting, compiling and disseminating reliable official statistics for policy planning purposes, particularly at the State and Sub-State levels. With proper and effective implementation of ISSP, it is hoped that there would be a significant improvement in the relevance, utility, user-friendliness, adequacy, credibility, timeliness and reliability of state, sub-state and in turn, the national level data, particularly in respect of 20 key identified statistical indicators (list at Annexure) besides improvement in terms of adherence to prescribed statistical standards.

ISSP was formulated as a sequel to the Recommendations made by the National Statistical Commission (NSC) headed by Dr. C. Rangarajan, constituted for effecting necessary improvements in the Indian Statistical System. ISSP has been initiated in the 11th Plan period as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with an approved outlay of Rs.650.43 crores, of which 80% was funded through a World Bank Loan and 20% borne by the Government of India.

ISSP aims to cover certain key areas of support to the States/UTs viz.

(i) improving management and coordination of statistical activities

(ii) developing statistical skills and capacity (human resource development)

(iii) developing statistical infrastructure including civil works and ICT facilities

(iv) conducting Surveys and Studies, and

(v) improving statistical operations (data collection, processing, management and dissemination), particularly for identified 20 key statistical activities.

Recent Developments and MoU signed:

At a special ceremony organised on March 28, 2012 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOS&PI), Government of India at Sardar Patel Bhawan, New Delhi and presided over by Shri. Srikant Kumar Jena, Minister of State (Independent Charge), the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation signed two Memoranda of Understanding, one each with the States of Odisha & West Bengal in the context of the India Statistical Strengthening Project (ISSP). This MoU Signing Ceremony was in continuation of a similar ceremony organised earlier viz. on March 16, 2012 at which MOS&PI had signed similar State/UT-specific MoUs under the ISSP with Sikkim, Mizoram, Kerala & Lakshadweep in the presence of MOS (IC).

The total project cost, Govt. of India share of project cost and the amount released towards first installment as per MoU for these six states is given in the following table.

* 60% of GOI’s committed funds to the State for the first year as per MoU.  However, in the case of Odisha in view of very little time left during 2011-12, a nominal token provision of Rs. 10 lakhs was earmarked for 2011-12 together with the allocation for the year 2012-13 and 60% of GOI’s committed fund for the two years (2011-12 and 2012-13) combined has been sought as first installment from GOI.

As of now, the ISSP Project is already under implementation, based on State specific MoUs, in the States of Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar & Tamil Nadu.

MoU with Odisha : In Odisha, the ISSP Project has been planned to be implemented during the period 2011-12 to 2016-17, at an aggregate estimated project cost of Rs. 6553.86 lakhs, out of which, the committed share of the Government of India is Rs. 5866.88 lakhs. The State Strategic Statistical Plan (SSSP) of Odisha proposes to strengthen 24 Key Statistical activities, including four additional areas viz. Statistics relating to Crime, Tourism, Gender and Monitoring & Evaluation etc. besides the statutory 20 Key areas. Out of more than 2000 sanctioned Statistical Posts in different Departments in the State, about 500 vacant posts are proposed to be filled up. Also envisaged is Upgradation and Creation of large number of Statistical posts in the Directorate of Economics & Statistics as well as in the Statistical Units of various Line Departments in the State.

MoU with West Bengal : In West Bengal, the ISSP Project has been planned to be implemented during the period 2011-12 to 2015-16, at an aggregate estimated project cost of Rs. 4964.00 lakhs, out of which, the committed share of the Government of India is Rs. 4874.00 lakhs. West Bengal is the first State in the Country to have a full fledged Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation at State Level.  The Major Thrust areas to be covered under the project in the State include Creation of Physical and/or Information & Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Statistical offices, Human Resource Development (HRD) under which the State proposes to collaborate with various training institutes and improving of Statistical Operations & development of Statistical infrastructure, under which a large number of Surveys & Studies are proposed to be conducted.

Annexure

20 Key Identified Statistical Indicators

1. Estimation of State Domestic Product
2. Estimation of Capital formation and Savings
3. Estimation of District Domestic Product
4. Estimation of the contribution of local bodies
5. Compilation of data on major Fiscal variables
6. Participation in the conduct of Annual Survey of Industries
7. Compilation of Index of Industrial Production
8. Estimation of Crop area and Production
9. Compilation of Wholesale Price Index numbers
10. Compilation of Consumer Price Index numbers
11. Collection and compilation of Health, Morbidity and Mortality and Family Welfare Statistics
12. Collection and compilation of Education and Literacy statistics
13. Collection and compilation of Labour and Employment statistics
14. Collection and compilation of Housing statistics
15. Birth and Death registration and Population
16. Compilation of Electricity production and distribution statistics
17. Compilation of Environment and Forest statistics
18. Participation in the surveys of National Sample Survey Organization
19. Compilation of Transport statistics
20. Collection and compilation of Statistics for local area planning.

03 April 2012