Almost a month after the NSSO data on unemployment was rejected by the government, expressing concerns over rampant political interference in data estimation,108 economists and social scientists on Thursday(March 14) called for the restoration of "institutional independence" and integrity of statistical organisations.
This appeal comes against the backdrop of controversy over the revision of gross domestic product (GDP) numbers and withholding employment data by the NSSO.
In their appeal both social scientists and economists highlighted the fact that until recently, India's statistical machinery enjoyed a high-level of reputation for the integrity of the data it produced on a range of economic and social parameters.
"The statistical machinery was often criticised for the quality of its estimates, but never were allegations made of political interference influencing decisions and the estimates themselves," they said in an appeal.