Not consulted over note ban, says statistics ministry

Several members expressed concern over joblessness, noted that data was not reflecting true picture

The government did not consult the ministry of statistics over the impact of demonetisation, officials told a parliamentary panel. 

The issue cropped up on Thursday when TCA Anant, secretary, statistics and programme implementation, appeared before the parliamentary standing committee on finance, sources said. The committee is reviewing the ministry’s demands for grants for 2017-18. 

When several members asked Anant if the ministry was consulted over the likely impact of demonetisation before the government announced it on November 8, 2016, the secretary replied in the negative. 

Several members expressed concern over joblessness in the country and noted that data available with the ministry was