Expert Group on SECC submits report to Rural Development Ministry

The Expert Group set up to prepare Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) has submitted its report to the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The expert group was headed by former Finance Secretary Sumit Bose.
The objective of the expert group was to study criteria for allocation of resources to States and identification and prioritization of beneficiaries under various programmes using SECC data.
The MoRD will use the SECC data for identification of beneficiaries and generating priority list of beneficiaries under its programmes. Based on it appropriate guidelines were issued for making inter-state allocation to cover households under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Key Observation of the Expert Group

• The use of SECC data and its TIN Number will enable the government to improve the efficacy of its interventions and it will also result in improved outcome.
• However there is need for regular updation and verification of SECC data in order to eliminate the need to mount standalone SECC in long run, which can put additional burden on public resources.
• The SECC has the potential to function as Social Registry Information System (SRIS) from being only census-like socio-economic database. SRIS will have several advantages in implementation of social sector schemes.
• The use of SECC data will lead to better budgetary planning and allocation of resources for various programmes.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2017