Modern Communication Tools Increase Efficiency: DG- Census & Statistics Dept.

The quick dissemination of information using modern communication tools is increasing the efficiency of organisations that use them, said the Dept of Census & Statistic ( DCS) Director General Dr. A. J. Sathrasinghe, last week.

Dr Sathrasinghen was the Guest Speaker at Stats Day organized by the Stats Circle of the University of Colombo (UoC), on Thursday (30), on the theme ‘ Statistics for a better tomorrow'. He said that modern tools in communication have improved the quality and timeliness of the official statistics compiled by the CSD.

"The DCS is using the ComputerAssisted Personal Interview (CAPI) method of data collection in household surveys, as many individuals, especially new users, don't have access to traditional tools including desktop comput- ers and telephone land lines, and are experienced in using mobile communication technology for accessing information, the DCS has started disseminating statistics using ‘Twitter’ social media," he said

He said the DCS will shortly launch an App, while a website has also been launched in 1999 and a Short Message Service (SMS) is also being used to raise awareness among the public and semi government sector employment census conducted last year.

F u r t h e r mo r e, whe n the Government declared 2016 as the 'Year of Eradicating Child Labor', modern tools were used to ascertain the percentage of child labour in Sri Lanka .

The DCS has also conducted periodic Demographic & Health Surveys (DHS) to obtain information on malnutrition in children, which statistics has helped reduce malnutrition in the last decade. The subsequent DHS has provided information to monitor the progress towards eradication of malnutrition. The latest round of the DHS was conducted in 2016.

Many countries struggling with the effects of drought, floods, pollution, land degradation, deforestation, and rising sea levels are using statistics to develop sustainable development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

On September 25, 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, as a part of the new Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG), which is officially known as ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, is a set of 17 Goals with 169 Targets and 230 Indicators between them. Till 2030, and even beyond, all countries of the UN will give top priority to their Development agendas pertaining to the SDG. Sri Lanka has already established a separate Ministry- Ministry of Sustainable Development in this regard. A Parliament Select Committee on Sustainabl e Development meets regularly to review progress.

Statistics are instrumental in measuring and managing the Development process. Development results achieved by 2030 will largely depend on the availability and appropriate use of timely and quality statistics on the 17 SDGs.