Shillong: The National Sample Survey Office (Field Operations Division), Regional Office Shillong, celebrated National Statistics Day in collaboration with St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, at the college auditorium on Saturday.
Prof. S.K. Jha, Head of the Department of Statistics at North Eastern Hill University, served as the chief guest. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of National Statistics Day, which aims to popularize and raise awareness about the significance of statistics. He explained that raw data is entropic and needs to be organized into a database to facilitate summarization and filtering. Prof. Jha also shared examples of data collection and analysis, highlighting their crucial role in informed decision-making.
Fr. (Dr.) Arcadius Puwein, Principal of St. Anthony’s College, delivered the inaugural address, stressing the importance of data and commending the NSSO’s role in data collection. He also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis, whose work has significantly impacted large-scale survey methodologies.
In his keynote address, N. Mohondas Singh, Director and Regional Head of NSSO (FOD) Regional Office Shillong, spoke about Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis’s life and legacy. He underscored the importance of data in decision-making, stating that decisions based on hard evidence reduce risks and biases. He further mentioned that data-driven decision-making fosters a culture of accountability and transparency.
The event was attended by R. Sumer, Deputy Director of DES Meghalaya; Smt. M. Nongrum, Deputy Director of NSSO (FOD) RO Shillong; Shri Prabhata Das, Assistant Director of RO Shillong; and Smt. A. Lyngwa, Assistant Director of RO Shillong. Presentations on the theme of Statistics Day 2024 were delivered by Prof. Dr. Strong P. Marbaniang of St. Anthony’s College and Prof. D.M. Syiem of Shillong College, both of whom emphasized the importance of data in making sound decisions. Additionally, a quiz competition was organized, with students from various Shillong colleges participating.
Background: Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis (1893-1972) is widely regarded as the “Father of the Indian Statistical System.” His pioneering work has significantly contributed to national planning, development, and other fields. To honor his birth anniversary, the Government of India declared June 29th as “National Statistics Day.” The main objective of celebrating this day is to create public awareness, especially among the youth, about the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation.
This year’s theme for the 18th Statistics Day is “Use of Data for Decision Making.”
