BIOMETRIC ENROLLMENT FOR NATIONAL POPULATION REGISTER GETS UNDERWAY

ID’s are getting smarter
GANGTOK, 12 Sept: The Department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation [DESME] is conducting the first phase of Biometric Enrollment for National Population Register (NPR) at around 30 venues across the state for the next three days.
Enrolment is mandatory as per Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship Rules 2003 and after the end of the enrolment process, each individual will be provided with a Smart Card that will act as a multipurpose card for important documentation and different works within the state and central government.
It may be informed that the creation of national population register was completed in 2010 during this initial phase the enumerator had visited each household and collected identity details of all local residents for NPR. An acknowledgment slip had also been given to each household to be used later at the time of collection of biometric photograph, 10 fingerprints and iris scan.
Statistical Officer, PK Chettri informed that if the Acknowledgment slip has been misplaced then an individual can also find their name and serial number in the list of residents available at the camp itself. And further, if someone has shifted to a new address and were not covered in the NRP earlier during the 2010 survey then fresh forms schedule will be provided to them by the enumerator. The same can be brought to the camp for the collection of biometric card on a later date that will be announced later.
One or any of the identity card numbers like voters’ ID card, passport, pan card, Sikkim subjects, COI, driving license and MGNREGA job card number is required for verification purpose and no original documents or photocopy needs to be submitted.

Aadhar will not dilute sanctity of Sikkim Subject Certificates or CoIs, DESME reassures

WORKSHOP HELD ON AADHAAR ENABLED DIRECT CASH TRANSFER STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 28 Jan: “The implementation of Aadhaar Card, Unique Identification Authority of India will not dilute the sanctity of Sikkim Subject Certificates or Certificates of Identification preserved under the Old Laws of Sikkim guaranteed under the 371F of the Constitution,” reassured Director, Department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation [DESME], SD Tshering today at Chintan Bhawan.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of a workshop on Aadhaar-enabled direct cash transfer strategy and implementation organized by DESME with District Nodal Officers, Block Development Officers and Gram Panchayats. It may be recalled that a section of the Opposition here has been opposing the implementation of Aadhar Cards in Sikkim claiming that these dilute the significance and sanctity of SSCs and CoIs. The DESME Director dismissed such charges outright.
“This card will only enable and help the government departments and agencies identify and verify the genuine beneficiaries,” he said.
He stressed that people should not be confused on the issue of Aadhar cards and SSC or CoI adding that there is no conspiracy to tamper with or dilute Sikkim’s identity and Old Laws protected by the Constitution of India.
The Government of India has directed them to implement 10 schemes out of 34 in Sikkim by 01 February, next month and enable beneficiaries to receive direct benefits of the government schemes without any middlemen or lengthy processes, explained Mr Tshering.
He informed that Sikkim has completed nearly 80 percent of enrolment and that direct cash transfer will be implemented in two districts - East and West Sikkim - which have the highest number of UIDs generated.
Seven schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice, three of Human Resource Development Ministry, Tribal Affairs and one under Health & Family Welfare will come under direct cash transfer schemes in Sikkim in the first phase. These schemes are mostly scholarships for students and special girl child Janani Suraksya Yojana.
According to the data available with the DESME, North Sikkim has generated the least percentage of Aadhaar cards with 57.11 percent [24,756 people] of the population covered followed by South with 77.23 percent [1,13,330]. West Sikkim has recorded the highest percentage of Aadhaar cards generated with 86.15 percent [1,17,416 ] followed by East district with 80.85 percent [2,27,419 nos].
Under the existing system, the Central government transfers the welfare schemes to the State exchequer which then proceeds to beneficiaries. This is a long process. However, with the implementation of direct cash transfer enabled by the Aadhaar Card numbers with core banking system, the beneficiaries will receive direct benefits into their bank accounts without delay or mismanagement, said Mr Tshering.
He added that the BDOs and Gram Panchayats play a crucial role in the implementation of Aadhar card and direct cash transfer and urged them to perform their duties responsibly.
Direct cash transfer will be implemented in 51 districts of the Northeast Region by 01 February.

Statisticians review Indian Statistical strengthening project

20th CONFERENCE OF CENTRAL AND STATE STATISTICAL ORGANIZATION BEGINS IN GANGTOK
GANGTOK, 10 Jan: Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso inaugurated the two-day 20th conference of Central and State Statistical Organization in the presence of Chief Statistician and Secretary, Ministry of Statistic and Program Implementation, Govt. of India (MSPI), Dr. TCA Anant at Chintan Bhawan here today. The conference is being hosted by DESME and is being organized by the MSPI.
The two-day conference is being attended by representatives of statistic offices of States and Union Territories who will deliberate on issues relating to industrial statistics, annual survey of industries, its present status and issues, urban statistics, information technology initiatives in statistics and also review the Indian Statistical strengthening project. It will also review the action taken on the recommendations of 19th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organization (COCSSO).
Highlighting the importance of the annual conference, Chief Statistician and Secretary, Ministry of Statistic and Program Implementation, Dr. TCA Anant informed that it is a premier platform to study and discuss threadbare the concerns and emerging challenges to raise the standard of statistical parameters. Dr. Anant also urged the states to generate and release data according to agreed common and standard calendar.
“This meeting gives us the chance to ensure better coordination between statistical departments in the country and since statistics is knowledge we will deliberate and be the backbone of the government’s assessment,” he stated.
In his address the DESME, Secretary, SD Tshering stated that Sikkim is one of the first states in the country to sign an MoU on the India Statistical Strengthening Project and under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling one of the few states to establish a separate department for statistical work and survey in the state even before the centre had intimated the state to do so.
“I want to thank the ministry for selecting Sikkim as the venue to host this prestigious meet. I hope that the deliberations will help us improve statistical tools and discuss some important issues,” stated the Secretary.
Addressing the conference, Additional Director General, CSO, Ashish Kumar informed that efforts on part of the organization have resulted into a number of initiatives to improve infrastructure scenario of the country. He also urged the states to undertake work on sampling of non sampled areas. Crucial statistical data on critical areas help in better policy formation, he added. He also informed that the two-day conference would try to identify areas of weakness and bridge the gap within 4-5 years.
It was also informed today that the meeting would discuss the means to improve the existing infrastructure in the country. It was mentioned that apart from the grants from the centre, a separate means to develop infrastructure through the 13th finance commission has also been initiated. This grant actually is for identification of weak areas and in the process bridge the gap.

Light was also shed on the recognition of urban and industrial statistics, an area that needed much deliberation and work. Firmer means to collect data along with appropriate knowledge for the different state governments to monitor these two areas for micro level planning will also be discussed during the programme. Other areas where the participants will deliberate upon will be the annual survey of industries, inclusion of areas of survey under central ASI, new census estimate of urbanization and feedback from the different states on the 13th finance commission.

“These deliberations will help in GSDP estimates and other areas and facilitate better policy making and knowledge. This conference is a premier platform to discuss areas of concern. Last year the meeting was held in Jaipur, we will also review the progress, capital formation and simultaneously plan for the future,” shared the ADG (NAD)/ADG (CAP), Mr. Aditya in his address.
On the occasion a manual on Disability Statistic 2012 was also released by the chief guest, Chief Secratary, Karma Gyatso.

No Aadhar here for non-Sikkimese

GANGTOK, 07 Jan: Enrolment for Aadhar cards or UID [Unique Identification] numbers in Sikkim has become more stringent. The State government, through the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, the nodal department for registering and issuing of Aadhar cards, has become more scrupulous in the enrolment procedure.
For one, people from outside the State can no longer enroll for their UID numbers here in Sikkim. That is to say, a resident of another state currently living in Sikkim, but without residential documents, cannot make his/ her UID card here in Sikkim. It has been informed that such persons will have to return to their respective home states if they want to get a UID card made.
It is not just for such people from ‘outside’ for whom making a UID card in Sikkim has become difficult, but even for locals, the process has become more stringent and lengthy with even more documents being required etc. What this now implies is that while earlier, one could get his/her photograph [for the UID Card] taken immediately after filling out the UID form, now the process has been upturned with a waiting period of as long as 9 months for getting the photograph taken after having submitted the form.
Officials inform that the process has been more strict also for security reasons. In the first round of enrolment, a number of people who do not qualify for enrolment managed to get UID card made. These would have been foreign nationals – from Nepal or Bangladesh - and some with ‘dubious’ credentials. In fact, one such wanted person was arrested here in Sikkim earlier this year after his photo emerged in the UID enrolment.
Officials confirm to as much, stating that it had been discerned that many people ineligible for enrolment under UID had managed to get UID cards in the first round. Apart from creating a security situation it could also lead to confusion at the time of seeking and releasing benefits with the possibility of bonafide beneficiaries losing out to others. So, locals are now being asked for their Sikkim Subjects or Certificates of Identification or some such authoritative document attesting to their residence here; it is not enough just to present such basic documents, but these are now required to be attested by the designated officials as well.
This being the case, people flocking to the DESME office here from all over the state for enrolment have the unpleasant prospect of being returned with directions to get their documents attested at their local administrative office.
Of the ‘non-locals’, only central government employees are being entertained in the UID enrolment process here and even they are being encouraged to have themselves registered in their home states for logistic and practical reasons.
While many had already enrolled for UID cards in the first round last year, a good number of them have not received their UID cards or have received cards with mistakes; in both cases such people have had to enroll afresh and are now finding that it is not as easy and simple as earlier. On the other hand with a waiting period of 9 months for a photo and then another year-long wait till one finally receives a UID card there is bound to be confusion as well as discontent when it comes to acquiring benefits or even for getting an LPG connection which has now been made Aadhar-based as well.

Lack of cooperation from departments delays completion of state employee census

ALREADY PAST THE AUGUST DEADLINE, THE CENSUS IS LIKELY TO TAKE SOME MORE MONTHS TO COMPLETE
GANGTOK, 20 Sept: The state employee census, begun by the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, almost a year ago is nowhere near completion. In fact it is unlikely that the exercise will see a closure this year at all.
As per the directions of the government, the report on the employee census on the total number of government employees in the state, both regular and otherwise, was to have been submitted to the government by the end of August 2012.
It is informed that the one and only reason behind the DESME inability to finalize the census report is the disinterested attitude of the departments. Some of the departments, it is informed, keep dilly dallying and do not seem bothered despite several orders issued by the state government soliciting their cooperation in this regard.
Recently, the Finance Department is said to have issued an order that details be collated from the Pay and Accounts Division on the number of employees on Muster Roll, which is where the major challenge to this census operation lies. However even this order does not seem to have found due compliance.
The various departments, especially the line departments which have a large number of employees on MR and Work Charged, have reportedly not been extending the kind of cooperation necessary for the closure of this exercise. Government orders in this regard are not being adhered to, it is informed. The exercise, which was supposed to be completed in August is likely to extend over another few months, or even more.

Ernest & Young to prepare DPR on use of UID in various govt programs

GANGTOK, 23 July: DESM&E which is the project implementer for the UID project in Sikkim held a workshop on 20 July to discuss the use of Aadhaar numbers in various government programs and projects. The department has appointed a multinational consultant, Ernest & Young, to prepare a detailed project report for using Aadhaar numbers in various schemes of the government, informs a DESM&E release. 
The government has already notified the use of Aadhaar numbers in all people-oriented services and projects. The workshop was held to get the feedback of various departments on using Aadhaar numbers in their schemes, the release mentions. Twenty eight departments participated in the workshop where the consultant informed them about the study they had conducted on all departments and their findings of their study.
Various opinions were given by the participants and matters were discussed in detail.  DESM&E has already finished the first phase of enrollment where more than 80% of the citizens were enrolled while the second phase of enrollment is expected to begin next month.
The department is now preparing to implement the report being prepared by the consultant which is aimed to improve the delivery and authentication of people based schemes in the state. Use of Aadhaar numbers in programs will dramatically improve the delivery and authentication which will lead to better services and prevent leakages, the release expresses.
The UID Authority of India as already sanctioned some funds to DESM&E to implement Aadhaar based services in the state and DESM&E will implement several Aadhaar based schemes within this financial year itself.

DESME to undertake census of business enterprises in Sikkim

PARALLEL CENSUS TO RECORD NUMBER OF DIFFERENTLY-ABLED CHILDREN
GANGTOK, 12 July: Starting from July and continuing till the next month, the Directorate of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation [DESME] is undertaking a census of all units engaged in economic activity in Sikkim.
A press release informs that the objective of this census is to record the number of enterprises operating in the State in order to build a Business Register. Based on this census, the Business Register will be built which will be useful in estimating the contribution of the enterprises to the State’s economy.
At the same time, the department is also collecting information on differently abled children between the age group 6-18 yrs.
The Census will be conducted house-to-house and Enumerators will be visiting each and every enterprise and household of every nook and corner of the State to collect the socio-economic data.  Therefore, the release mentions, the department appeals to all citizens to extend their full cooperation to our enumerators and provide all information asked for by them.
The DESME is the Nodal Agency for all statistical works of the state and the present endeavour of the department will help in strengthening the hands of the policy makers and planners.

Mission Poverty Free Sikkim well within reach, announces DESME Director

RMDD SURVEY UNDERWAY TO IDENTIFY BPL FAMILIES SO THAT SCHEMES CAN BE TARGETED MORE EFFECTIVELY
GANGTOK, 09 April: The mission of the State Government spearheaded by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to make Sikkim a poverty-free state is well with reach, stated Director General cum Secretary, Department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, SD Tshering, while addressing media-persons here last Saturday.
To support this projection, the DESME Director highlighted data recently released by the Planning Commission of India on poverty levels for 2009-10. As per this data, poverty level has come down by nearly 20 per cent in Sikkim in the five years, dropping from 31.1 per cent in 2004 to just 13.1 per cent in 2009. The national average for number of households below the poverty line stands at 30%.
On poverty in Sikkim, Mr. Bhutia informed that statistics reveal that poverty levels were at the highest in Sikkim in 1977-78. This high-water mark, he said, was probably reached because of a surge in influx immediately after the merger of 1975. Poverty levels have been showing a downward trend ever since, but the drop has been most substantial under Mr. Chamling’s governance, he highlighted.
“The substantial decrease in poverty levels indicates that the pro-poor schemes, economic development and the subsidies of the State Government for the underprivileged are clearly having a very positive impact and are working,” he remarked and added that while poverty levels in other Northeastern States was going, it was not only firmly under control in Sikkim, but also aggressively declining.
What is even more celebratory about the latest data is that not only has poverty gone down, but per capita incomes have also been on a steady rise, he added.
While there is an obvious correlation between per capita income and poverty levels, it has been the consistent growth of the state economy that has proved beneficial, he explained, adding that if the trend continues, the Mission Poverty Free Sikkim was well within reach.
The dream of the Chief Minister to make every citizen a Lakhpati will also be realised very soon, the Director added, pointing out that the Per Capita income in current prices for the year 2010-11 already stands at Rs. 92,808.
The Secretary further informed that the Planning Commission data provides only figures of poverty and does not identify the people subsisting below the poverty line. For this, the Rural Development & Management Department was conducting a separate census in Sikkim so that schemes and projects for the upliftment of the BPL families can be targeted more effectively, he informed.

DESM&E establishes UID enrolment center in its office at Gangtok

GANGTOK, 28 Feb: The Department of Economics, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation [DESME], the implementing agency of the Unique Identification programme to issue unique identification number or Aadhaar to all residents in the State has established a UID enrolment center in its office (DESM&E HQ) located at Old West School Building complex, Church Road, Gangtok.
A press release informs that the center has been established in order to enroll the residents of Gangtok area who have not been enrolled as yet. The enrolment center will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM on all days from 01 to 10 March. Residents are requested to bring a photocopy of either their Ration Card, Driving License, Passport, Voter ID Card or any document with photograph. For further details the following numbers can be contacted: 03592- 201546/206125.
In the State, the UID enrolment started in March 2011 and about 80% of the residents have been enrolled so far.  In East District, the department has covered all the gram panchayat units and municipal wards, the release adds.

UID sensitization programme in Yuksam and Duga

GANGTOK, 13 Nov: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Yuksam BAC of West District and and Duga BAC of East district on 10 November, informs a press release.

DoP had earlier submitted that 9823 temporary employees are under the State to HC

SO WHY THE CONFUSION TODAY?
GANGTOK, 07 Nov: While the state employee census is underway on the direction of the Central government through the 13th Finance Commission that the state conduct a state employee census to ascertain the exact number of persons on the payroll of the state exchequer the High Court of Sikkim had earlier sought from the government the number of temporary employees working with the government to which the state, it was observed, had no satisfactory answer.

More than 50% of state budget going to Salaries and Deptts don’t know number of their Employees!

FINANCE COMMISSION SEEKS AN EMPLOYEE CENSUS
GANGTOK, 06 Nov: What was long feared but never spoken aloud or even enquired into much has now been given a firm stamp of confirmation by none other than the central government itself in the form of the 13th Finance Commission. 

UID Sensitization workshop held at Pakyong

GANGTOK, 03 Nov: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Pakyong Block Administration Center on 02 Nov, informs a press release.

UID sensitization workshop held in Parakha BAC

GANGTOK, 30 Oct: The Nodal Department (DESM&E) implementing the Unique Identification programme in Sikkim conducted a sensitization programme in Parakha Block Administration Center on 18 October, informs a press release.

Enumerators and Supervisors trained in preparation of SECC-2011

GANGTOK, 30 Oct [IPR]: The State Government notified the intent for conducting the nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census Survey 2011(SECC 2011) in Sikkim along with the appointment of Officers for the SECC 2011 vide Notification No.  216/RM&DD, Dated 16.7.2011 and 256/RM&DD, Dated: 1.8.2011 respectively.

DESM&E bags Aadhaar Excellence Award 2011

GANGTOK, 13 Oct: On the occasion of the first anniversary of UID enrollment, the Unique Identification Authority of India set up under the National Planning Commission, felicitated a number of states and enrolment agencies for their commendable performance relating to Aadhaar or UID number. Sikkim was also one amongst the few who made the list and was awarded the Aadhaar Excellence Award 2011 by the Government of India in appreciation of its commendable performance for Aadhaar Enrolments, informs a press release.

Unique Identification Number drive begins with CM

GANGTOK, 02 March [IPR]: A team headed by Director General, Department of Economic, Statistics Monitoring and Evaluation, SD Tshering, along with Project Coordinator, T. Gelek, and Enrollment Agency “Four-G” called on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at his official residence, Mintokgang, yesterday for the enrolment of the Chief Minister under the Unique Identification Number (UID). The enrollment drive will soon commence after the issue of UID or “Aadhaar Number” of the Chief Minister.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been setup by the Government of India with the aim to issue unique identification numbers of “Aadhaar” to all residents in the country. UIDAI proposes to create a platform to first collect the identity details like demography, and then perform authentication that can be used by several government and commercial service providers. In order to ensure that each identity is unique and unduplicated, biometric details like, finger prints of all ten fingers of the hand, iris and photograph of each and every person will be captured.