New Delhi: Taking computing technology a step forward, the government today announced its decision to introduce tablets for the purpose of date collection instead of pen and paper July onwards.
This exercise will be conducted by researchers using tablets at the July's first quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The researchers will be guided by computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) technique.
The Statistics ministry has asked for around 700 tablets, at a per unit cost of Rs 20,000. Surveyors of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) will track and upload employment data, which will come as a huge time saviour.
Official from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation told ET, "We have moved a proposal to the Finance ministry to get 700 of these devices for PLFS, which is in advanced stages of being implemented. We used to collect data on paper which was then sent to data processing centres and then uploaded, leading to delays. In a way, we are setting a precedent."
The tablets will come loaded with a schedule of questions and software that will, when data is fed, calculate critical indicators like unemployment rate and workforce participation and more.
