Dr MCR HRD Institute rolls out training program for newly recruited MSPO, ASOs

Hyderabad: Dr MCR HRD Institute of Telangana rolled out three-week duration Induction Training Program for218 Mandal Planning & Statistical Officers (MPSOs) and Assistants Statistical Officers (ASOs) of the Department of Economics and Statistics.

Telangana State Planning Board Vice Chairman B Vinod Kumar, who was the Chief Guest at the event, said that Telangana State is a frontrunner in the proactive use of data aimed at understanding problems in a scientific way and in formulating innovative schemes for their enduring solutions. He cited the examples of such schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima, which are based on collection of ground-level data and its analysis. "These schemes captured the imagination of other States from across the country", he stated and added that the secret behind the success of Telangana agitation was the extensive use of data in highlighting the deprivation of Telangana region on multiple counts.

Continuing his address, Sri Vinod Kumar said that availability of data from the grassroots level would be of great help in undertaking planning for continuing the development trajectory of the State with a focus on Mandals and villages. "It is in this context that the role of the MPSOs and ASOs assumes great importance", he stated. He added that the present-day world of work is changing at a mindboggling pace and advised the MPSOs and ASOsto keep learning, especially the emerging information and communication technologies, in order to keep their skill sets current and up-to-date.

Dr G R Reddy, Advisor to Government (Finance) said that Telangana is the only state in the country which has achieved commanding heights during the last five years, both in terms of economic development and social welfare. "The credit for this worth-emulating achievement goes to the robust infrastructure in the State for the collection of data and its analysis with a professional touch", he added.

B P Acharya, Spl Chief Secretary & DG of the Institute said that the process of collection of data and subsequent planning process should not be a mechanical activity. "The focus of this exercise should be people and their multifaceted development", he stated and added that the Telangana State undertook a first-of-its-kind "SamagraKutumba Survey", which covered a whopping one crore households and collected data across 95 parameters. "A number of innovative schemes were formulated for the amelioration of a lot of beedi workers and shepherds", he stated. He added that Telangana State was a pioneer in collecting village-centric data as a part of the scheme, "Mana Vooru; Mana Pranalika" and also using geo-spatial data for asset mapping across villages.

K Ramakrishna Rao, Principal Secretary, Finance said, with a sense of pride, that the size of the economy of Telangana State, which was 4.5 lakh crores in 2014, has jumped to a staggering 8.6 lakh crores in 2018-'19. "The credit for this achievement goes to data-based planning and decision making", he stated. He advised the MPSOs and ASOs to be truthful in collection and analysis of data, considering the allegations against the agencies involved in the similar work at the national level. He added that the data, which is deficient in terms of its fairness, will result in the wrong diagnosis of problems and formulation of faulty schemes. He, therefore, advised the MPSOs and ASOs to maintain high standards of fairness in their working.

A Sudarshan Reddy, Director of Economics & Statistics welcomed the gathering and presented an overview of the program. On this occasion, Vinod Kumar released a Manual of Department of Economics & Statistics and also a documentary on "A Day in the Life of a Toddy Tapper" made by T-SAT through national award winning director, Gnana Rajashekharan, IAS (Retd). He also inaugurated Sardar Patel Conference Hall in the presence of A K Goel, Dr G R Reddy, BP Acharya, Harpreet Singh, K Ramakrishna Rao, B Venkateswara Rao and others.