Fact & Figure

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Fact & Figure

Most data used to compute development is dated—early '80s and '90s.
Only 15 states ranked on HDI for '01, census figures unavailable in rest.
Contradictions galore, and there are no insights: Kerala tops the HDI rankings (for 1981, 1991, 2001) but has the country's highest unemployment rate; per capita rural consumption expenditure in the northeastern states has shot up dramatically between 1993-94 and 1999-2000, yet there's little improvement in human development.
No attempt to link the economic performance of states, especially in the '90s, to trends in HDI. No discussion even on Andhra Pradesh which despite its economic buoyancy shows practically no improvement in HDI ranking between 1981-2001.
Punjab ranks second in 2001 on the HDI. Since gender equality indexing is done only till 1991, the report fails to capture that this prosperous state registers the sharpest declines in the sex ratio among children in the age group of 0-6 years (Census 2001 data), reflecting high levels of female foeticide.
A conflict-ridden state like J&K ranks higher (21) than states like Karnataka (23) and Uttar Pradesh (31) till 1991. (Kashmir isn't among the 15 states ranked for 2001). No discussion on how conflict skews development.