Tag: Decision making

18th “Statistics Day” celebrated today with the theme "Use of Data for Decision-Making"

 In recognition of the notable contributions made by Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning, Government of India has designated June 29 every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as “Statistics Day” in the category of Special Days to be celebrated at the national level. The main objective of celebrating Statistics Day is creation of public awareness, especially among the younger generation, on the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation for development of the country.

Since 2007, Statistics Day is celebrated every year with a theme of contemporary national importance. The theme for Statistics Day, 2024 is “Use of data for decision-making”. The concept of data driven decision making is important for making informed decisions in any field, and it is one of the pre-requisites for better understanding of statistical information, emanating from official statistics and for facilitating evidence-based decision making.

The main event of Statistics Day, 2024 was organized at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi. The Chief Guest, Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman, 16th Finance Commission addressed the gathering. He narrated the role played by Prof. P.C.Mahalanobis in shaping the Indian Statistical System. He also urged that India should continue its data driven policy making in order to move along its development trajectory.  

Prof. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman, National Statistical Commission and Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI also addressed the participants on this occasion. Chairman, NSC, emphasized the need to make the data more accessible and usable, and suggested that Ministry’s efforts on leveraging Information Technology for producing data needs to continue. He also stressed upon the need of the interoperability and linking of databases generated by various agencies through coordination among stakeholders. Secretary, MoSPI while addressing the audience highlighted the recent initiatives of the Ministry for reducing time-lag in survey data like Computer-Aided Personal Interview (CAPI), new surveys, user engagement exercise and the newly launched eSankhyiki portal. He hoped the spirit of Statistics Day will continue to inspire the statistical personnel and planners for data driven decision making.

Senior officers of Central Ministries/Departments, State/UT Governments, representatives of international organizations viz. UN agencies, World Bank, etc. and other stakeholders also participated in the event. The event was also web-cast/live streamed through the social media handles of the Ministry. On this occasion, the winners of ‘On the Spot Essay Writing Competition, 2024’ for Post- Graduate Students were also felicitated.

During the technical session, Dr. Ajay Kumar, ex-Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, addressed the gathering on the importance of data in governance. He highlighted the importance of data in the dynamically changing digital age and the increasing role and scope of MoSPI. This was followed by a presentation on global experience of using data for decision making by Mr. Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva, Global Director for the World Bank Group’s poverty and equity global practice.  He emphasized that data is an essential infrastructure for effective policy making, while sharing prevalent global practices.

Based on the updated Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework (SDGs- NIF), every year MoSPI releases the Progress Report on SDGs with time series data on Statistics Day (i.e., on 29th June) along with two handbooks which are derived from the progress report. Accordingly, following three reports were released during the event:

  1. Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report, 2024’
  2. ‘Data Snapshot on Sustainable Development Goals- National Indicator Framework, 2024’
  3. ‘Sustainable Development Goals- National Indicator Framework, 2024’

These reports can be accessed at the MoSPI’s website (www.mospi.gov.in). The time series data on the SDG indicators are downloadable in MS excel format from the report.

The Ministry launched an eSankhyiki portal (https://esankhyiki.mospi.gov.in) with the objective to establish a comprehensive data management and sharing system for ease of dissemination of official statistics in the country. The portal can also be accessed through the website of MoSPI (https://mospi.gov.in/). It is to provide timely inputs for planners, policy-makers, researchers and the public at large. The eSankhyiki Portal has two sections facilitating easy access and re-use of data, namely:

  1. Data Catalogue: The catalogue lists the major data assets of the Ministry such as National Accounts Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Index of Industrial Production, Annual Survey of Industries, Periodic Labour Force Survey and Household Consumption Expenditure Survey at one place.
  2. Macro Indicators: It offers time series data of key macro indicators with features for filtering and visualization. It also allows users to download custom datasets, visualizations and accessing them through APIs, thereby increasing the re-usability of data. At present, this section includes four major products of MoSPI: National Accounts Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Index of Industrial Production, and Annual Survey of Industries, encompassing the data of last ten years.

 

   

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Health Estimates: A Crucial Tool for Informed Healthcare Decision-Making

  Health estimates play a pivotal role in shaping healthcare policy, resource allocation, and individual health decisions. These estimates, often based on rigorous research and data analysis, provide valuable insights into various aspects of health, including disease burden, healthcare utilization, mortality rates, and the efficacy of public health interventions. In this essay, we will delve into the significance of health estimates and their impact on healthcare systems and individual well-being.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Understanding Health Estimates

Health estimates encompass a wide range of quantitative assessments related to public and individual health. They can be broadly categorized into the following key areas:

  1. Disease Burden: Health estimates provide essential information about the prevalence and incidence of diseases within a population. These estimates help policymakers and healthcare professionals understand the scope of health challenges, allocate resources effectively, and prioritize interventions.
  2. Healthcare Utilization: Analyzing healthcare utilization patterns allows for the assessment of healthcare access, disparities, and the efficiency of healthcare delivery systems. It helps identify areas where healthcare services may be underused or overused.
  3. Mortality Rates: Estimations of mortality rates are fundamental for tracking the impact of diseases and interventions over time. These estimates guide public health initiatives, especially during epidemics and pandemics.
  4. Efficacy of Interventions: Health estimates are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare interventions, such as vaccination programs, treatment modalities, and preventive measures. They aid in evidence-based decision-making and can inform policy adjustments.

Importance of Health Estimates

  1. Informed Decision-Making: Health estimates serve as the bedrock of informed decision-making for healthcare policymakers and practitioners. By providing accurate and up-to-date data, estimates enable the formulation of targeted strategies to address health challenges.
  2. Resource Allocation: Limited healthcare resources must be allocated judiciously. Health estimates guide resource allocation by identifying areas with the greatest need, thus optimizing the utilization of healthcare funds and infrastructure.
  3. Monitoring and Evaluation: Health estimates provide benchmarks for evaluating the impact of healthcare policies and interventions. Regular assessments help refine strategies and ensure that resources are directed toward the most effective initiatives.
  4. Public Health Preparedness: In the face of emerging threats, such as infectious disease outbreaks, health estimates are indispensable for gauging the potential impact and planning effective response measures. Timely and accurate estimates can save lives during public health emergencies.
  5. Personal Health Decisions: On an individual level, health estimates can empower people to make informed decisions about their own health. For instance, understanding the prevalence of risk factors for certain diseases can motivate individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles and seek timely medical care.

Challenges and Limitations

While health estimates are invaluable, they are not without challenges and limitations. Some of these include:

  1. Data Quality: The accuracy of health estimates relies heavily on the quality and availability of data. In some regions, data collection may be incomplete or unreliable, leading to less accurate estimates.
  2. Assumptions and Modeling: Many health estimates are based on mathematical models that involve assumptions. These assumptions can introduce uncertainty into the estimates, making it important to communicate the limitations associated with them.
  3. Resource Constraints: Conducting comprehensive health surveys and studies can be resource-intensive. Some countries, particularly low-income ones, may face challenges in obtaining sufficient data for accurate estimates.

Conclusion

Health estimates are a vital tool in modern healthcare. They guide policymakers, healthcare providers, and individuals in making informed decisions about public health, resource allocation, and personal well-being. As we continue to navigate the complex landscape of healthcare challenges, the importance of accurate and up-to-date health estimates cannot be overstated. Investing in data collection, research, and analysis is essential to improve our understanding of health trends and to develop effective strategies for promoting better health outcomes for all.

Top 10 professional skills a person should have

 Professional skills 

What are professional skills ?

Professional skills are important to succeed in your career. They are the soft skills a person should have when he or she is contributing towards their company . This skills are not specific to any job but those who knows this skills and understand them they will be more beneficial in their future.

Soft skills such communication, leadership, time management and way of talking, can also help professionals work with the people around them and help them manage tasks.

Top 10 professional skills a person should have 

1. Leadership skills – 

Those who is having leadership quality in them will be more succeed in their life. They should know how to manage people, how to motivate them , how to help others with their work. Many things contribute in the leadership skills . For managers and supervisors, leadership may also involve knowing when and how to delegate tasks and adjusting your management style according to the personality and working style of each employee.

2. Teamwork skills – 

As we know Teamwork skills is important for any company to work efficiently. It’s important for professionals to be able to work effectively as part of a team , which means completing your own tasks while remaining aware of your colleagues abilities and need .

3. Organisation skills – 

You should know how to organise a thing in effective manner so you can complete your task in given timeline. For completing a task every employee has different timeline and different type of task so they work according to their task but always remember you should complete your task in given timeline then only it make sure that you are having organisation skills .
It’s also important that you’re able to prioritise tasks and complete them in an appropriate order, starting with the most important.

4. Communication skills – 

Everyday we communicate with eachother so having communication skills is soo important . If you are not having communication skills then you are lacking in skills . Communication skills include the ability to adapt your delivery or tone of voice to the task at hand . For example, if you are a manager in a company then you should know how to communicate with your employees and if you are employee then you should Kno how to communicate with your manager these things always affect the person mindset.

5. Problem – solving skills –

Every company has their own problems as they work on different purposes so manager always look on those employees who is having problem solving skills on them . 
Imagine a company having some problem related to their sales but you don’t know what to do for inhance their sales then manager will not appreciate you they just criticize you for not knowing the things and not having any problem solving skills .
So it’s important to have this skills .

6. Emotional intelligence – 

Emotional intelligence refers to how we express our feelings, relate to other people and interpret their actions or behaviours. People with emotional intelligence are good at understanding how others feel based on their actions, speech , body language or behaviours. 
If manager understand what employee feels and employees understand what manager feels then it easy to work together in the same company. 

7. Adaptability – 

Adaptability is the quality to adapt the situation whether it is comfortable to them or not . Manager is always looking for the team members who are flexible and able to adapt their work and behaviours to the situation at hand .
If employee adapt the situation and work accordingly it will surely beneficial to the company as well as for the employee also as employee will get appreciation from the manager.

8. Negotiation and persuasion – 

These skills involve the ability to listen to the other person’s perspective and come up with valid compromises that allow both parties to get what they want and feel positive about it . If a person having negotiation skills it will surely help him to make friendly environment in the surroundings. As every company has their own rules and regulations and they don’t want to change it so negotiation will help to come up with a solution which help both the parties having equal value and benefit.

9. Ability to work under pressure – 

Well not everyone having the ability to work under pressure they get frustrated easily which is not good for the company’s environment. Employee should keeping calm and work with the greater extend to get the result . Employers understand everyone gets stressed from time to time , but knowing that you will be able to remain calm and continue working even in high stress situations can give them confidence in your ability, making this is an important professional skill to develop.

10. Confidence – 

Professionals who are confident with their work always get success in their hand . Having confidence in your work not only help you to perform better, but it can also help convince your managers or supervisors of your capabilities and may lead to opportunities for advanced in the future.

Make your children good decision makers….

We usually think children shouldn’t take decision, as they are small and they don’t know what is right and what is wrong and we wait till they mature and make them include in the decision making, but we forgot if we suddenly force them to take decision, how will they take without any prior experience pr anything.

So it is necessary to let the child involve in decision making since childhood. Teaching your child to make their own decisions has several benefits. If you led them to take small decisions, and when they make good decisions, they gain a great amount of satisfaction and fulfilment because they chose it and if they take wrong decision they may suffer, but they can learn from it and they can make better decisions in future. It doesn’t mean that you give your child the complete freedom of decision making. It may be dangerous sometimes. Give your child freedom to make some decision based on their age, maturity and previous decision making abilities.

To help the child with decision making first educate the about it a little bit. Start withbsome steps if he had done homework of his own so is it a good choice or a bad choice, similarly helped you in household chores. So we can talk about various decisions which led them to think.

Teach them to pause and think before taking a decision. A few second of thinking prevent a lot of bad decisions. Guide them while thinking about options they have and also evaluate the consequences. They need to weigh thr risks and benefits of their decisions both in the short term and long term. Then led them to act upon the best options and allow them to from the experience whether the decision was good or bad.

Allow them to sometime take the decision of their own, which you think may not harm the children. Give them the opportunity to think about their decision, do not overreact on their decision and allow them to learn from their mistakes.

So it is necessary for parents to guide and help their children in developing good decision making skills so that they will grow up and become an independent, responsible and happy adult.