NSO Report: Govt Continues to Hide Data, But Who Are We Kidding?

In its latest effort to hide and twist data as per convenience, the Modi-led government swept the NSO report on consumer spending and poverty under the carpet – until it was leaked and reported by Business Standard.

For the first time in four decades, consumer spending in India for the year 2017-18 took a hit. A committee of National Statistical Office (NSO) had approved the release of the report of this survey on 19 June 2019, but the Centre chose to conceal it.

The report titled 'State Indicators: Home Consumer Expenditure in India' by NSO shows a drop in consumer spending on the back of weak rural demand. The data is important as it indicates the failing health of the economy.

The data reveals that the national level consumption has declined by 3.7% and by 8.8% in rural India in the year 2017-2018.

This data does not present a good picture of the country’s economic condition and the government tried to hide it from the public instead of acknowledging and taking action to fix it.

However, this is not the first time the government has hidden crucial information from the public.

All Time Unemployment Rate

Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, an NSSO report was leaked, according to which, the unemployment rate in the country was at its highest in the last 45 years but the government never acknowledged it and kept calling it fake. Due to delay in the release of these reports, two members including National Monetary Commission Chairman PC Mohanan resigned.

After the elections, when the Modi government came back to power, these figures were officially released.

After 2015, Govt Released Next NCRB Report in 2019

The 'Crime in India' report, has been regularly published since 1953. It is an important document report which depicts the law and order situation of the country. But the government failed to publish it for a couple of years. They released the report in 2019 after 2015.

Now, why did NCRB release crime data of 2017 by the end of 2019?

Change in Farmers’ Suicide Data

Several changes have been made in the latest NCRB report on farmer suicides. For the first time, a state-wise list has been missing. Figures of only 5 states were released. The report failed explain the reasons for farmers’ suicide.

According to The Indian Express, NCRB submitted the report to the Ministry of Home Affairs 18 months ago. The report did mention the reasons for suicide but the details were not printed in the published report. The figures were released after the Lok Sabha elections.

Data on Lynching and Hate Crimes Missing

While data related to lynching and hate crimes was collected and included in the report submitted to the government, the NCRB report left out lynching, honour killing  and hate crime data.

GDP Growth Data Called into Question

GDP data too has been fudged. The country is facing recession, there is widespread unemployment, but there is controversy on how serious is the problem.

The government changed the base year in order to calculate the GDP. There are questions being raised on this. The point is that the country will not benefit from hiding or changing the data.

It may fetch government the votes but the Indian economy will continue to suffer.

(This story was first published on Quint Hindi)