Paperman Media (Bhubaneswar )- A two-days training programme on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was inaugurated on 21th April , 2026, at the Regional Institute of Planning, Applied Economics & Statistics (RIPAE&S), Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar.
The primary objective of PLFS is to generate reliable, high-frequency, and detailed data on India’s labour market and the unorganised sector, which are crucial for evidence-based policy formulation and planning.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr.B.B. Nanda, Director, Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DE&S), Odisha. In his inaugural address, he emphasized the importance of accurate and high-quality data collection for strengthening policymaking processes. He highlighted the pivotal role of field investigators and supervisory officers in ensuring the reliability and credibility of survey data.
The training programme aims to create a pool of master trainers from among district-level officials, including Assistant Directors, Statistical Officers, Assistant Statistical Officers, and Investigators. These trained officials will further support and guide field-level survey operations across the state.
Sri Mahesh Chandra Tripathy, Senior Statistical Officer (SSO), Field Operations Division (FoD), Regional Office, Sambalpur, is serving as a key resource person. He is providing in-depth training on survey concepts, methodologies, data collection techniques, and the use of structured questionnaires for field operations.
Senior officers, including the Joint Director, DE&S, along with Joint Directors of the Central and Southern Ranges, attended the inaugural session and interacted with the participants. During the session, key concepts and definitions related to the surveys were discussed, along with potential challenges arising from inaccurate data collection, such as sampling bias and its implications for policy outcomes.
It was also highlighted that data collection will be conducted using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) technology to ensure efficiency and accuracy. The field survey is scheduled to be commenced during May 2026 with the active involvement of trained Survey enumerators and Survey supervisors.
The training programme marks a significant step towards strengthening the statistical system and ensuring robust data collection for informed decision-making.
