Questioned in Parliament, the Central Government Admits to ‘No Data’

Newsreel Asia Insight #240
June 2, 2024

The central government frequently responded with “no data” to parliamentary questions concerning at least 10 vital issues, according to an analysis by IndiaSpend. Between 2015 and 2023, out of 35 key questions regarding health, education and public safety, the government claimed that data was not maintained in 17 instances.

The following are the 10 issues for which the government claimed to have no data, according to the IndiaSpend analysis.

(1) COVID-19 Related Deaths and Health Worker Safety: Questions about the mortality of migrant workers, healthcare workers, police and sanitation staff during the pandemic were consistently answered with “data not maintained centrally,” shifting the onus to state governments. This lack of centralised data collection undermines the ability to assess the national impact of the pandemic and to coordinate a comprehensive response, which is vital for managing public health crises.

(2) Women’s Employment During the Pandemic: The government’s inability to provide data on the impact of COVID-19 on women’s employment shows a significant oversight in addressing gender-specific challenges during the pandemic, such as job security and access to economic opportunities, which are crucial for ensuring gender equity.

(3) Farmer Protests: The absence of data on arrests and deaths related to farmer protests against agricultural reforms suggests a gap in governmental oversight and accountability, which is essential for ensuring justice and addressing public grievances in democratic societies.

(4) Healthcare Infrastructure: The lack of data on deaths due to oxygen shortages and the state of healthcare infrastructure during the pandemic points to potential gaps in health crisis management and preparedness, which are critical for safeguarding public health during emergencies.

(5) RTI Activist Safety: The government’s admission of not having centralised data on assaults and killings of RTI activists raises serious concerns about the protection of those who seek transparency and accountability, fundamental for a functioning democracy.

(6) Journalist Arrests: The arrest and prosecution of journalists, a significant marker of press freedom, were topics the government could not provide data on in July 2022, attributing the gap to policing being a state subject.

(7) Manual Scavenging Deaths: Despite clear guidelines and the dehumanising nature of manual scavenging, the government, in responses from 2019 and 2022, denied any ongoing instances of the practice or associated fatalities, a contradiction to numerous independent reports.

(8) Foreigner Detention Centers: Information regarding the number and conditions of foreigner detention centers was also unavailable centrally, as clarified in February 2022, with states left to manage according to a 2019 manual.

(9) Inter-Faith Marriages ('Love Jihad'): In a 2020 session, the central government clarified that 'Love Jihad' was not a recognized legal term, and no central agencies had reported related cases, despite significant public and media attention on the issue.

(10) Mob Lynching and Communal Violence: Finally, the lack of centralized data on mob lynching was acknowledged in December 2022, with the government indicating reliance on state-reported data concerning communal riots instead.

Without accessible and reliable data, it becomes difficult for both policymakers and the public to evaluate the government’s performance and hold it accountable. The absence of data can be perceived as a barrier erected to avoid scrutiny and accountability.

Further, effective policy-making relies heavily on accurate data. Policies crafted in the absence of reliable data are less likely to be effective and can lead to misallocation of resources, inefficiency and unaddressed social issues.

Furthermore, when the government repeatedly states it does not have data on significant issues, it can erode public trust and lead to perceptions of opaqueness rather than transparency.