INTRODUCTION
Genesis
Reliable and timely data base is the
basic infrastructure needed for any sound and systematic planning. Efficient
sectoral planning depends to a large extent on the availability of detailed
information, preferably at micro level. Though a fairly adequate system of
agricultural statistics has already been developed in the country, such an
information system has not yet been built up for the non-agricultural sector.
While statistics in respect of organised segments of the non-agricultural
economy are being collected more or less regularly, it is not so in regard to
its unorganised segments even though unorganised sector assumes greater
importance due to its significant contribution towards gross domestic product
as also in generation of employment in developing economy.
Earlier attempts
1.2 Attempts were made in the past to bridge
these data gaps by both Central agencies and the States. The National Sample
Survey Organisation (NSSO) had conducted some surveys on household
nonagricultural enterprises in the past. The first round of NSS (1950-51)
covered non-agricultural enterprises as one of its subjects. Such enterprises
were covered regularly up to the tenth round (1955‑56). Subsequently,
selected activities were taken up for survey intermittently in different rounds
(14th, 23rd & 29th rounds). Establishment schedules were canvassed in
1971 population census. The census of unorganised industrial units was carried
out during 1971-73. Census of the units falling within the purview of
Development Commissioner, Small Scale Industries was carried out during 1973-74
and a survey on distributive trade was conducted by some of the States during
the fourth five-year plan period (1969-74). All such efforts made prior to 1976
to collect data on unorganised nonagricultural enterprises have been partial
and sporadic.
Economic Census
1.3 The first coordinated approach to fill
these vital data gaps was made by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO),
Government of India by launching a plan scheme 'Economic Census and Surveys' in
1976. The scheme envisaged organising countrywide census of all economic
activities (excluding those engaged in crop production and plantation) followed
by detailed sample surveys of unorganised segments of different sectors on
non-agricultural economy in a phased manner during the intervening period of
two successive economic censuses. The basic purpose of conducting the economic
census was to prepare a frame while follow up surveys intended to collect more detailed
sector specific information between two economic censuses. In view of the rapid
changes that occur in the unorganised sectors of nonagricultural economy due to
high mobility or morbidity of smaller units and also on account of births of
new units, the scheme envisaged conducting the economic census periodically in
order to update the frame from time to time.
First Economic Census (EC 1977) and follow up
surveys
1.4 The
first economic census was conducted through out the country, except Lakshadweep,
during 1977 in collaboration with the Directorate of Economics & Statistics
(DES) in the States/Union Territories(UT). The coverage was restricted to only
nonagricultural enterprises employing at least one hired worker on a fairly
regular basis. Data on items such as description of activity, number of persons
usually working, type of ownership etc. were collected.
1.5 Reports based on the data of EC 1977 at
State/UT level and at all India level were published. Tables giving the
activity group-wise distribution of establishments with selected
characteristics and with rural and urban break up were generated. State-wise
details for major activities and size class of employment, inter-alia, were
also presented in tables.
1.6 Based on the frame provided by the first
economic census, detailed sample surveys were carried out during 1978-79 and
1979-80 covering the enterprises engaged in manufacturing, trade, hotels &
restaurants, transport, storage & warehousing and services. While the
smaller establishments (employing less than six workers) and own account
enterprises were covered by NSSO as part of its 33rd and 34th
rounds, the larger establishments were covered through separate surveys.
Detailed information on employment, emoluments, capital structure, quantity
& value of input, output, etc. was collected and reports giving all
important characteristics on each of the concerned subject were published.
Second Economic Census (EC 1980) and follow up surveys
1.7 The second economic census was conducted
in 1980 along with the house-listing operations of 1981 Population Census. This was done with a view to economise
resources, manpower, time and money.
The scope and coverage was enlarged.
This time all enterprises engaged in economic activities - both agricultural
and non-agricultural whether employing any hired worker or not - were covered,
except those engaged in crop production and plantation. All States/UTs were
covered with the sole exception of Assam, where population census, 1981 was not
conducted.
1.8
The information on location of enterprise, description of
economic activity carried on, nature of operation, type of ownership, social
group of owner, use of power/fuel, total number of workers usually engaged with
its hired component and break-up of male and female workers was collected. The
items, on which information was collected in second economic census, were more
or less the same as those collected in the first economic census. However,
based on experience gained in the first economic census certain items viz.
years of activity, value of annual output/turnover/receipt, mixed activity or
not, registered/ licensed/recognised and act or authority, if registered were
dropped.
1.9
The field work was done by the field staff consisting of
enumerators and supervisors employed in the Directorate of Census Operations of
each State/UT. The State Directorates of Economics & Statistics (DES) were
also associated in the supervision of fieldwork. Data processing and preparation of State level reports of
economic census and their publication were carried out by the DES.
1.10 EC 1980 data were released in two series of
tables ('A' series and ‘B' series) with different sets of groupings for
minor and major activities as also for agricultural and non-agricultural
sectors. ‘A’ series gives the number of own-account enterprises and
establishments with relevant characteristics classified according to nature of
economic activity. ‘B’ series gives the principal characteristics of
own-account enterprises and establishments classified by size class of total
employment for each economic activity. Summary statements, which basically
provide the sampling frame and planning material for follow-up enterprise
surveys, were generated for rural and urban sectors of each State/District separately..
The reports were published both at State/UT level as well as at All-India
level.
1.11 Based on the frame thrown up by EC 1980,
three follow-up surveys were carried out, one in 1983-84 on hotels &
restaurants, transport, storage & warehousing and services, second in
1984-85 on unorganised manufacturing and third in 1985-86 on wholesale and
retail trade.
1.12 The third economic census scheduled for 1986
could not be carried out due to resource constraints. The EC 1980 frame was
updated during 1987-88 in 64 cities (12 cities having more than 10 lakh
population and 52 class-I cities) which had problems of identification of
enumeration blocks and changes due to rapid industrialization. On the basis of the updated frame, four
follow-up surveys were conducted during 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92
covering the subjects of hotels & restaurants and transport, unorganised
manufacturing, wholesale & retail trade and medical, educational, cultural
& other services respectively.
Third Economic Census (EC 1990) and follow up surveys
1.13 The third economic census was synchronised
with the house listing operations of the Population Census 1991 on the same
pattern of EC 1980The coverage was similar to that of EC 1980. All States/UTs except Jammu & Kashmir,
where population census 1991 was not undertaken, were covered.
1.14 The tabulation plan consisted of generation
of tables giving the results of EC 1990 under four broad categories: (a)
agricultural own account enterprises, (b) agricultural establishments, (c)
non-agricultural own account enterprises and (d) non-agricultural
establishments. For each of these categories, details of number of enterprises,
employment with rural -urban break up for each district were presented by size
class of employment, major activity, etc.
All these tables were grouped broadly in to three categories viz. (i)
summary statements, (ii) main tables and (iii) derived tables.
1.15 Based on the frame thrown up by EC 1990 four
follow up surveys were carried out: (i)
Enterprise Survey covering sectors of mining & quarrying, storage &
warehousing in 1992-93; (ii) Enterprise Survey covering sectors of hotels &
restaurants and transport in 1993-94; (iii) NSS 51st round covering
directory, non-directory and own account enterprises in unregistered
manufacturing sector in 1994-95 and (iv) Directory Trade Establishments Survey
in 1996-97. NSS 53rd round covered the residual part of the
unorganised trade sector in 1997.
Fourth Economic Census
1.16 With a view to meeting the demand of various user departments for
the data on unorganised sectors of the economy and considering the nature of
large number of small units which are subjected to high rates of mobility and
mortality, it was felt that the economic census must be brought back to its
quinquennial nature so that an up-to-date and complete frame can be made
available once in five years for conducting the follow up surveys. It was also
felt necessary to assess the impact of economic liberalisation process on
entrepreneurial activities of the country and to monitor the sectoral changes,
particularly the emergence of the service sector. Keeping these aspects in
view, fourth economic census was planned during 1996. But due to severe
budgetary constraints the scheme could be launched in only in 1998.
1.17 The
overall responsibility for organisation and conduct of the economic census
rested with the CSO. The DESs of respective States/UTs were made responsible
for conducting the field work and preparing the report.
1.18 A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was
constituted by Government of India for finalising the scope, coverage, concepts
& definitions and schedules to be canvassed. The TAG considered the data
requirements of different Ministries/Departments of the Central and State
Governments and recommended the items of information to be collected, formats
of the schedules and also the tabulation plan. The TAG inter alia recommended
to carry out a Post Enumeration Check (PEC) in selected samples to assess the
extent of non-sampling errors in economic census data. Besides, it also
recommended to form a Monitoring Committee at national level to oversee the
progress of economic census work.
1.19 In the fourth economic census a complete
enumeration of all agricultural (except crop production & plantation) and
non-agricultural entrepreneurial activities was carried out through out the
country.
1.20 Economic census operations
envisaged identification of the enterprises through complete house listing in
House List schedule (Annex I) and collecting the particulars about each
enterprise identified through the house list schedule, in Enterprise List
schedule (Annex II)
1.21 Like earlier economic censuses, the basic
primary unit for conducting the fourth economic census in rural areas was
census villages in all States/UTs except Kerala and Lakshadweep, where
panchayat wards were taken as primary units. However, in urban areas there was
a departure from the earlier practice. The basic unit in urban areas was the
NSSO Urban Frame Survey (UFS) block. This was done mainly because, in earlier
economic censuses census enumeration blocks, temporarily carved out at the time
of population census, were used which caused problem of identification in
conducting subsequent follow up surveys. To facilitate proper identification of
the UFS blocks in the field and for confining the census work within the
boundary of each block, photocopies of latest maps of UFS blocks for each town/city
along with its boundary particulars were supplied to the Directorate of
Economic & Statistics of the States/UTs.
Preparation
of Rural and Urban Directories
1.22 For identification of the primary units in
rural and urban areas, twelve digited location codes were adopted to prepare
directories of primary units separately for rural and urban sectors in each
State/UT. The list of villages as per 1991 Population Census was used for
preparation of the rural directory. Urban directory was based on UFS records
obtained from the Field Operations Division of NSSO. The basic information thus
obtained was updated for newly formed districts/tehsils/blocks etc. taking 15
August 1997 as the cut off date by the DES in each State/UT. Some of the
States, however, updated the directories using a subsequent date as cut off
point. Preparation of these directories was a pre-requisite for starting the
field operations.
1.23 For the purpose of fourth
economic census, an enterprise was defined as an undertaking engaged in
production and/or distribution of goods and/or services not for the sole
purpose of own consumption. An agricultural enterprise was defined as one
engaged in livestock production and agricultural services including hunting, trapping
and game propagation, forestry, logging and fishing (corresponding to Divisions
02, 03, 04, 05 and 06 of Section 1 of National Industrial Classification
(NIC)-1987). Enterprises engaged in activities pertaining to agricultural
production and plantation (Divisions 00 and 01 of Section 1 of NIC-1987) were
not covered under the economic census. Enterprises engaged in all other
activities were termed as non-agricultural enterprises. Enterprises engaged in
economic activities with the assistance of at least one hired worker on a
fairly regular basis were defined as Establishments. The enterprises operated
with the help of household labour only were termed as Own-Account Enterprises.
1.24All economic
activities were covered except those carried out under the following
situations.
(i)
Enterprises of shelter-less and nomadic population which
keep on moving from place to place and camp either without shelter or with
makeshift shelter.
(ii)
Enterprises engaged in some activities like smuggling,
gambling, beggary, prostitution etc.
(iii)
Domestic servants whether they work in one household or in a
number of households and drivers etc. who undertake jobs for others on wages.
(iv)
All wage-paid employees.
(v)
Household members engaged in household chores.
(vi)
Persons doing different types of jobs depending on the
availability of work e.g. loading, unloading, helping a mason or a carpenter,
doing earthwork for a contractor.
(vii)
Households working for others and earning some money
(insignificant) i.e. purely employee households.
(viii)
Households in which none of the members is engaged in any
gainful activity i.e. households depending on remittance, rent, interest,
pension etc.
(ix)
Owners of tube-wells, tractors and bullock carts etc. who
utilise their spare capacity to earn extra money if the spare capacity
utilisation is occasional and not on regular basis.
1.25 The
items of information collected in fourth economic census included premises
status, description of activity, nature of operation, ownership type, social
group of owner, power/fuel used, years of operation, registration, source of
finance, total number of persons usually working and hired persons with break
up in male/female and adult/child categories.
Enumerators
and Supervisors
1.26 The
services of locally drawn personnel such as primary school teachers, patwaris,
village level workers. municipal workers were drafted for enumeration work in most of the States/UTs.
In urban areas unemployed youths were also appointed as enumerators in some of
the States/UTs. The local officials of immediate supervisory level were
appointed as supervisors. In all services of around 6.5 lakh
enumerators/supervisors were drafted for census work. The enumerators and
supervisors involved in the operation of economic census were given prior
training at different levels.
1.27 The fourth Economic Census
was conducted independently in all States/UTs. Initially it was proposed to
launch the field work of economic census from Feb, 1998 and complete by April,
1998. But in view of General Lok Sabha elections, the date of commencement of
field work was postponed. The field work was finally launched from 23 March,
1998.
1.28 As per the recommendation
of Technical Advisory Group, in order to assess the extent of non-sampling
errors in economic census data Post Enumeration Check (PEC) was conducted in
all States/UTs immediately after completion of the field work of economic
census. Two villages and two urban blocks were selected at random in each district
through out the country. The schedules of economic census were canvassed by an
independent agency. The field work of PEC was undertaken by the Field
Operations Division of National Sample Survey Organisation in all States/UTs
except Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, where PEC was done by
the DESs of respective States.
1.29 In order to meet the immediate need of
various users arrangements were made for quick tabulation of economic census
data. An 'Enterprise List Abstract'
(Annex III) was filled by the enumerator for this purpose on completion
of the field work in a village/block.
Aggregation of data with rural-urban break up at tehsil, district and
state level was done by the DESs The provisional results in respect of 30
States/UTs were released by CSO in June 1999.
1.30 The tabulation plan
recommended by the Technical Advisory Group was adopted. Two series of tables
were generated: (a) main tables and (b) special tables. The main tables were to
provide State/UT-wise results in respect of principal characteristics of the
enterprises and employment therein classified by major activity groups, type of
enterprises, ownership type, social group of owner, size class of employment,
power/fuel used, source of finance, etc., The special tables were to reflect
major characteristics of data at all India level. The tabulation format of the
main tables is given at Annex IV.
1.31 Softwares for data entry,
validation, auto-correction as well as for tabulation were developed at the
Computer Centre, of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation,
Government of India, New Delhi. These softwares were supplied to the DESs in
States/UTs. Necessary training for using the softwares was also imparted.
Data Processing
1.32 Processing
of fourth economic census data was
undertaken in a decentralised manner. DESs of each State/UT was made
responsible for processing of data through in-house facilities available with
them or by engaging outside agencies. The data entry work in respect of
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar
Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and
Pondicherry was undertaken by the respective DESs using in-house facilities
available with them. Rest of the States/UTs except Nagaland and Orissa, hired
the services of outside agencies. For Nagaland and Orissa data entry as well as
its processing was done at Computer Centre, New Delhi. All India tables were
generated at the Computer Centre, New Delhi.
1.33 The National Industrial Classification (NIC)
1987 was used for classifying the enterprises. The list of major agricultural
and non-agricultural activity groups in which principal characteristics of the
enterprises have been classified is given at Annex V.
1.34 Concepts and definitions of the important
terms used in fourth Economic Census are at Annex VI.
Format of the Report
1.35 Besides this chapter this report contains
four more chapters. The second chapter gives the highlights of the results. The
subsequent two chapters describe the characteristics of agricultural and non-agricultural
enterprises respectively. The last chapter presents a comparative picture of
the results of earlier economic censuses.
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