The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) project aimed at gathering household and individual level data throughout India. It transcended the normal statistical process of data collection as is done world over in either census or sampling modes. As the objective of SECC is mainly to facilitate strict correspondence between the targeted government benefits and intended individuals and households, the privacy and secrecy concerns of survey units are put to public scrutiny, but with appropriate care given to those respondents who want to maintain their own privacy. Therefore, SECC had gone beyond a normal statistical exercise and encapsulated various dimensions of a complex socio-political process.
The book explains the way the SECC project was executed. Many lessons were learned while executing the project and, that was probably one of the valuable learning outcomes derived by its implementers. Written by a handful of SECC project key executioners, it compiles key features and challenges of the project and captures the contributions made by thousands of individuals and institutions. This volume would be a useful reading for students and practitioners of management, statistics, demography, public policy, administration, sociology, and social sciences.
Recenzijas
This book explains very lucidly how complex problems confronted in conceptualisation and also while collecting data in the Socio-Economic Caste Census project. The book is written with clarity about various aspects involved in the design and execution of the Census. The collection of papers in this volume makes a lasting contribution to the ways to address the challenges involved in the identification of poor.'- R. Radhakrishna, Former Chairman, National Statistical Commission, currently Chairman, Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad.
'As someone who was closely involved with the design and roll-out of SECC, and subsequently chaired an Expert Committee on methods of using its results, I am delighted with this book. The SECC exercise was not only massive and challenging, it involved many innovations never before used in India. These essays by those who were at its cutting-edge are both a testimony to their commitment and a lesson for such exercises in the future.'- Abhijit Sen, Former Member, Planning Commission of India.
List of Tables and Figures
About the Editor/Contributors
Preface
Introduction
Part 1
Census Operation: Background, Methods, Processes and Practices
1. Socio-economic and Caste Census: Beneficiary Identification through
Multidimensional Deprivations and Vulnerabilities in IndiaCapacity Building
and Knowledge Management
2. SECC in Urban Areas
3. Caste Data Collection in SECC
4. Transparency, Accountability and Public Participation in SECC
Part 2
Project Management
5. Stakeholders Galore
6. The Moving Target: Independent Monitoring of SECC by Third Party Agencies
7. A Step towards Gender Integration
Part 3
Technology Support System
8. Introduction of Tablet Personal Computer for Household Census in India
9. Software Development for SECC: The Challenge of Meeting Multiple Demands
10. National Population Register: SECC Data Merging Procedure and
Consequences
11. Database Management and MIS of SECC: Tango between Hardware and Software
Summary, Conclusions and Lessons
N.K. Sahu belongs to Indian Economic Service (IES). He was the Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, the nodal ministry which carried-out the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC). He is the only person who worked for this project since its inception till it came to the final stage. His role was unique as he worked for the predecessor of this project, i.e. BPL Census 2002 as well as the SECC project. His PhD thesis is on Analysis of Forced Commerce in Indian Agriculture (unpublished) and has authored a book titled, Electoral Politics in Federal India: MP Local Area Development Scheme. At present, he is the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi.
