A national workshop on longitudinal surveys in India, organised by the Tamil Nadu Household Panel Survey (TNHPS) and the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), was held at MIDS, Chennai.
A key session, ‘Longitudinal Surveys in India: Lessons and Challenges,’ took place on Tuesday (March 18, 2025). M. Suresh Babu, director, MIDS welcomed the gathering. The session was moderated by P.C. Mohanan, chairperson, Kerala Statistical Commission. The session brought together experts to discuss the complexities and opportunities of conducting longitudinal surveys in India. Kripa Ananthpur, retired professor, MIDS & consultant TNPHS introduced the panel discussion.
Efficient data collection and followup
Pallavi Choudhuri, senior fellow at the National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC), emphasised the advantages of Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) for efficient data collection and stressed the importance of para-data and metadata. Panelists discussed the need for regular dashboard updates and real-time listening tools to enhance the survey process.
The discussion also focused on poverty dynamics, with panelists pointing out that data from 2005 could overlook shifts in poverty levels. Ms. Choudhuri highlighted that a major part of the eligible population lacks a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card, critical for accessing government benefits. The panelists stressed the role of economic downturns and life events in shaping poverty, emphasising the need to study poverty dynamics for effective welfare planning.
Challenges and data discrepancies
Aloke Kar, visiting scientist at the Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU-IS), Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, discussed the challenges in sampling and designing survey methodologies, including the complexities of language diversity in data collection.
T.V. Sekher, professor at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), discussed the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), which tracks the socio-economic and health conditions of India’s ageing population. Sekher also shared finding discrepancies in self-reported health data, revealing under-reporting of conditions like hypertension.
Call for better data collection methods and research
Brinda Viswanathan, professor & dean of research, Madras School of Economics, and S. Chandrasekhar, professor, The Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), provided perspectives as data users. The session concluded with calls for further research on tracking women in longitudinal studies, overcoming biases in data collection, and designing gender-sensitive interventions.
Published – March 20, 2025 07:00 pm IST
