India, Feb. 13 -- Ramesh Kumar, an investigator or "data warrior" as they are better known to the fraternity, braved sub-zero temperatures in a Himalayan village to gather vital data on rural livelihoods. It is on the basis of such resilience and motivation that an organisation as big, old, and significant as the National Sample Survey (NSS) survives, thrives, and contributes meaningfully to national development.

Ramesh's determination, along with that of countless others, has ensured the inclusion of marginalised communities in the national database, highlighting the human effort behind the statistics that drive policy decisions.

This year marks a historic milestone: The 75th anniversary of the NSS. The ministry of statistics and progr...