Socio-economic survey in JK to start from July one: NSSO

Srinagar, Jun 22: National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) will begin the year-long socio-economic survey in Jammu and Kashmir from July 1 with Leh and Kargil districts being included in the survey for the first time.

"The 68th round of socio-economic survey is going to start from July 1, 2011 and the field work would continue till June 30, 2012," Deputy Director General of the NSSO, Sher Singh said while inaugurating a regional training camp here yesterday.

Leh and Kargil have being included for the first time in the Statistical data collection survey, he said.

Singh said the total number of sample villages and urban blocks in the state will be 1296, comprising 840 as state samples and 432 as Centre samples.

"One-third of the samples would be covered by the field officials of NSSO and the remaining two-third by the field officials of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of J&K," he said.

Stressing upon the collection of accurate and reliable data, Singh emphasised upon collecting quality data to the maximum extent possible.

He highlighted the role of surveys by the NSSO in developing a sound statistical data base for the use by planners and policy makers, researchers and various other agencies at the national and international level.

Singh said the aim and objective of the 68th round of the survey is collection of data about the availability of employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, availability of Ayurvedic dispensaries, people living below poverty line, distribution of population, level of nutrition, analyses of demand and supply of different commodities and services in the country and generation of important indicators.

He said the collected statistical data will also be used for estimating Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the state.

PTI