PREFACE

 

 

 

The Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) has been continuing efforts in developing infrastructure for a sound and reliable data base for the unorganised segments of the economy through the schemes of economic censuses starting with the first one conducted in 1977.  The second and the third economic censuses were conducted in 1980 and 1990 along with the house listing operations of the Population Censuses of 1981 and 1991 respectively. The Fourth Economic Census was conducted by CSO in 1998 independently of the population census in collaboration with the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES) in the States/Union Territories (UT) with the same scope and coverage of the previous two rounds of economic censuses.

 

            In earlier economic censuses 'Population Census Enumeration Blocks' were used as primary units in all urban areas.  Over the years these blocks when selected for follow up surveys, created identification problems due to passage of time. In order to avoid this problem, for the first time, Urban Frame Survey (UFS) blocks developed and maintained by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), were taken as primary units in urban areas for conduct of the Fourth Economic Census.  It covered all enterprises in the non-agricultural as well as agricultural economic activities except crop production and plantation.

 

            This report presents detailed results of the Fourth Economic Census at all India level along with the disaggregated figures for the States/UTs.  The results have been discussed separately for agricultural and non-agricultural enterprises in details in five chapters.  The last chapter gives a comparative picture of growth of enterprises, employment and certain major characteristics of the last three economic censuses. 

 

            I would like to place on record, my appreciation to all the Directors of Directorates of Economics & Statistics in the States/UTs and their officials engaged in economic census work for completing the entire operation starting from collection to tabulation of data.  But for their sincere efforts, it would not have been possible to complete this gigantic task.  I would also like to thank the Computer Centre, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation for developing excellent softwares for data entry, validation and tabulation.

 

            My sincere thanks are also due to my colleague Dr. R.N. Gupta, Deputy Director General and his team in the Economic Census Division whose untiring efforts have resulted in bringing out this report well in time.

 

 

                                                                                                          (Dr. S. Ray)

New Delhi                                                                Additional Director General

May, 2001                                                          Central Statistical Organisation