The first meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee (SLCC) on the 8th Economic Census was held on 19th February 2025, chaired by Chief Secretary, Dr J Alam, IAS, at the Chief Secretary’s Conference Room, Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
Secretary of the Department of Economic & Statistics, Akunu S Meyase, initiated the session by highlighting the importance of the Economic Census as a crucial headcount of establishments, entrepreneurial units, and workers across the country, focusing particularly on the non-agricultural sector. Meyase also shared that the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with States and Union Territories, has conducted seven previous Economic Censuses.
The 8th Economic Census, scheduled for 2025-26, will see a technological leap, as the census will utilize an advanced Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform. This will include geo-codes embedded in mobile devices for data collection, real-time data validation, and interactive Management Information System (MIS) dashboards for better monitoring and supervision.
The meeting focused on determining the mechanisms to fulfill the requirement for contractual manpower, IT personnel, and the identification of master trainers. Discussions also centered on activating the District Level Coordination Committees (DLCC) and addressing the need for IT experts in each district to resolve any technical issues. The department also outlined plans to use government employees from various departments as enumerators and supervisors.
Chief Secretary Dr Alam emphasized the importance of district-level coordination, urging Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure that district officials provide all necessary support for the census. He also encouraged the use of social media platforms to raise public awareness about the upcoming Economic Census and sensitize the community on its importance.
The Department indicated that the first week of April 2025 is tentatively scheduled for the nationwide rollout of the 8th Economic Census. A PowerPoint presentation was also shared during the meeting to further detail the process and expectations.