Strange as it may appear, there is something in common between the recent publication of Q1 GDP growth, ongoing census 2027, and almost-completed SIR of electoral rolls, the last one making headlines this week for the wrong reasons. All three are technical exercises using laid-down methods and procedures to update different aggregates that are tools for democratic governance and socioeconomic advancement.
These are not conducted by individual whims or caprices. SIR, census and GDP data collection are the result of arduous work by professional electoral registration workers, census enumerators and statisticians. Electoral roll, census findings and GDP numbers are notable public goods, and implicitly embody a national consensus. SIR has bearing on the franchise of citizens with implications for participatory democracy. Census informs critical contours of demography, and feeds into politically-sensitive exercises like delimitation and women's reservation. GDP is understood as a statement on the state of economy.
