Chief Statistician of India for better monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals

Jubilee Hills: Chief Statistician of India Pravin Srivastava has stressed importance of monitoring,at national and state levels,and scientifically measuring the outcomes of policies to achieve the targets relating to different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDGs revolve around achieving such ambitious goals as no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work, and economic growth.

"While such traditional methods of data collection as Census and Survey are important in their own right, there is a pressing need to switch over to extensive application of such modern techniques as big data analytics in order to ensure that the monitoring of progress towards achieving the SDGs is more comprehensive in coverage and real-time in nature," he stated.

Srivastava, was addressing trainee civil servants undergoing 94th Foundation Course at Dr MCR HRD Institute of Telangana. The theme of his presentation was "Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India: Use of Big Data."

He observed that the rich data available with Government agencies and private institutions is an asset both for the nation and the government and should be used extensively in understanding the issues relating to the concurrent progress towards such SDGs as no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, economic growth, etc.

"The Government should, therefore, seize the opportunity that this big data presents and utilize it to develop policies and deliver services to citizens," he added. B P Acharya, Spl. Chief Secretary & DG of Dr MCR HRDI, felicitated the chief guest.