text: making indicators more functional. C. INDIA 45. A detailed account of the modem history of Indian social and demographic data collection and of the difficulties attendant upon collecting statistics effectively for so large a country was presented to the Group. The paper suggested a broad system of social indicators for development planning, described its statistical requirements, indicated the direction in which the existing statistical activities had to be further expanded and discussed the possible ways of bringing about the desired improvement. 46. The presentation stressed the importance of population statistics, as the rapid acceleration of the volume of basic needs had forced priority in planning upon the population factor. That concern was particularly relevant to developing areas of high population growth and limited resource levels. The paper listed the major goals of planning and ela­ borated upon the various elements which required measurement within each goal. Expectation of life at birth was posited as a key indicator which described the health status of the population. 47. A section of the paper related to the programme for data collec­ tion was particularly useful for developing areas which did not enjoy a phalanx of experts and extensive funds as some countries did. The inadvisability of continuing with techniques established over the years by overworked administrators was pointed out. The presentation sug­ gested the strengthening of statistical processes in decentralized policy­ making departments. 48. The paper pointed to the important need for developing concepts and definitions suited to a particular context. It pointed to the concept of labour force which necessarily varied from a largely seasonal agri­ cultural society to an industrial society. The method of collecting data was no less affected by such differentials and that served as a warning 12 against wholesale adoption of new techniques, by which developing countries might be beguiled. 
analysis: The text discusses the importance of collecting social and demographic data for development planning, particularly in developing countries with high population growth and limited resources. It highlights the need for tailored concepts and definitions, and the importance of strengthening statistical processes in decentralized policy-making departments. The focus is on the population and health status of the population, which suggests that the category is related to human development and welfare.