A comprehensive National Child Survey and Child Index are set to be developed as part of a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
The initiative aims to map the needs of vulnerable children, including those in conflict with the law or in need of care and protection, under the government’s Mission Vatsalya scheme.
The development was highlighted in the latest report of the Standing Committee on Finance, on MoSPI, chaired by BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday.
The panel called for urgent and systematic efforts to generate reliable and timely child-specific data to guide policymaking, programme implementation, and child rights protection.
According to the Ministry’s reply to the parliamentary panel, preliminary discussions have been held with the WCD, which was in the process of identifying key indicators and survey parameters. Once these are finalised, the technical feasibility of conducting the survey will be assessed in consultation with relevant steering committees and expert groups, the ministry said.
The Committee recommended that MoSPI and WCD work closely with State Governments and involve panchayats and municipal bodies to ensure effective data collection at the grassroots level. It emphasised that the periodic survey and resulting index would play a vital role in identifying and addressing the needs of children, particularly those working in the informal sector, living on the streets, or out of school.
The Committee has asked to be kept informed of further developments during the submission of the government’s action taken statement.
Economic census
In a separate observation, the Committee expressed concern over the non-publication of the 7th Economic Census, attributing it to data inconsistencies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry acknowledged that the census was affected by business closures and disruptions during the fieldwork phase, which led to errors in coverage, classification, and duplication. This made the data unsuitable for publication.
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The decision to withhold the 7th Census results was taken after a review chaired by the Cabinet Secretary in July 2023. This marked the first time an Economic Census in India remained unpublished.
To ensure continuity and accuracy in future surveys, the Mahtab-led panel noted that the MOSPI would modify census timelines in the event of disasters or emergencies, avoiding data collection during abnormal periods. For the 8th Economic Census, clear deadlines have been issued to all States and Union Territories, which will play a central role in conducting fieldwork, providing training, and finalising results.
The Committee stressed that the 8th Census must be completed and released on time, given its critical role in capturing entrepreneurial activity and supporting economic planning at the national and regional levels.
