The next census in 2001 will examine different parameters of economic
development since the launch of reforms in 1991-92. It will also look
into the extent of penetration by the banking industry and come up with
data on ownership of vehicles and television sets among 200 million
households in the country.
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The census, work on which has already begun, is expected to throw up
useful information on the banking habits of people in various strata of
society in the country.
"This is a new addition to the data items in the questionnaire. We will
ask a simple question: whether a household has a bank account. I am sure
it will throw up a lot of useful information for the banking industry as
well as a pointer to the use of money and level of economic
development," M Vijayanunni, registrar-general and census commissioner,
told Business Standard.
"As with other census data, this will also provide vital clues on
banking behaviour and it will be for the analysts to determine what the
data indicates," he said.
The data will be useful for the banking industry which is currently
involved in taking decisions on reducing costs on branch management and
focusing on urban areas which generate larger profits. Nationalised
banks are no longer under pressure from the government to increase their
coverage in rural areas as they used to be before economic
liberalisation
in 1991-92.
The census results will help determine whether the spread of bank
branches has contributed to the growth of banking habit. Some experts
have questioned this point of view saying that banking behaviour was
directly proportional to economic development and the need to use bank
instruments like cheques and drafts.
The 2001 census will also look into other aspects of economic
development like the ownership of modes of transport by households. This
data will also be available in the context of urban and rural households
in different states.
This data can be valuable information for the automobile sector which is
constantly watching the rural economy to project future sales of motor
cycles, scooters, tractors and even cars. Currently, the auto sector
uses agriculture statistics to determine the paying capacity in rural
areas.
Another interesting feature of census 2001 will be its attempt to
collect data on the use of modes of communication like telephone, radio
and television. With the telecom industry privatising and targeting the
rural sector, this data will be a pointer to the possible growth in
demand. "The department of telecommunications is keen that we examine
telephone penetration. They need a clearer picture on this score,"
Vijayanunni said. There have been conflicting estimates made by
different agencies on the extent of television penetration in the
country. This is the first time that a census will try to gather data in
this respect. ely to figure in the second list of countries to be covered ">