Data is useful information that is collected to support organizational decision-making and strategy. Within government systems, data is critical for effective intervention. Data equals Knowledge. Good data provides indisputable evidence, while anecdotal evidence, assumptions, or abstract observation might lead to wasted resources due to action being based on incorrect conclusions. Governments more than any other institutions require good data to measure human development on various parameters. Only accurate data will enable governments to take strategic action that can bring out measurable outcomes. It also helps in course correction. Data allows the government to monitor the function of important departments particularly health and education. By utilizing data for quality monitoring, departments can respond to challenges before they turn to full-blown crises. Also, effective quality monitoring will enable the departments to proactively make timely intervention, instead of reacting to situations based on data provided by national agencies from time to time.
Data is a key component for all advocates of social change. Utilizing data also helps present a strong argument for systems change as well. Very often government departments implement schemes conceived in Delhi but which do not necessarily work in hill states. If such schemes are not measured for their efficacy, government will continue investing money without any visible results. Whether the state government is advocating for increased funding from public or private sources, or making the case for changes in regulation, the funding agency judge a presentation that relies on strong, authentic data before accepting why changes are needed. Data will help explain to stakeholders why decisions have been taken. It may happen that some strategies and decisions do not yield the desired outcomes but finally an action taken based on solid data and not on guesses is still better than action taken on guesswork. Good data allows organizations to establish baselines, benchmarks, and performance goals to keep moving forward. A baseline is what a certain area looks like before a particular solution is implemented.
Funding today is outcome and data-driven The central government is increasingly moving from funding based on services provided to funding based on outcomes achieved. This makes it increasingly important for states to implement evidence-based practice and develop systems to collect and analyze data. A survey on the ground will reveal that in the rural areas of Meghalaya the drop-out rate of school students from the primary, upper primary and high school level has gone up substantially post Covid. But to get a handle on this, some quick survey backed by case studies to find out the extent of the problem is urgently required so that remedial measures can be taken. Even with the persistent problem of women’s anaemia in the child bearing years and other important human development indices, Meghalaya fares very poorly. This has to change. The Department of Economics and Statistics needs a complete overhaul. Data is critical to development interventions.
