The Economic Survey 2013-14 presented by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely as precursor to the General Budget in the Lok Sabha today shows some interesting results of inter-state comparisons of socio-economic development of select states based on available indicators from various sources and furnish some clear policy pointers. While some states have done very well in terms of growth indicators, they are poor performers in terms of other human development indicators. The Economic survey states the Human Development dimension needs to be taken into account in formulating and implementing social sector programmes and arriving at criteria for devolution of funds to states.

Population

Kerela is the best performing state in terms of the two indicators- Decadal growth of population (4.9 per cent) and sex ratio (1084) and is well ahead of other states. Andhra Pradesh is a distant second in terms of population growth and third in terms of sex ratio with Tamil Nadu in second place in terms of sex ratio. Bihar has the highest decadal growth of population (25.4) and Haryana the lowest sex ratio (879).

Growth

Bihar is the best performing state in terms of growth rate of both gross state domestic product (GSDP) 2012-13 (15.1 per cent and average GSDP 2005-06 to 2012-13 (9.9 per cent) and also per capita income growth 2012-13 (13.9 per cent). Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerela are other states that have performed well in all these indicators and well above the all India average. However, in terms of absolute values of GSDP and per capita income, Maharashtra and Haryana respectively are at the top. While Tamil Nadu has the lowest growth in GSDP 2012-13 and Assam the lowest average GSDP growth Rajasthan has the lowest per capita income growth in 2012-13.

Poverty

Poverty estimates indicate that Bihar which had the second highest poverty headcount ratio (HCR) in 2004-05 moved to first place in 2011-12 with the HCR at 33.7 per cent relegating Odisha to second place. Kerala had the lowest poverty (7.1 per cent) followed by Himachal Pradesh (8.1 per cent) and Punjab (8.3 per cent).

Health

Infant Mortality rate (IMR) in 2012 was the lowest in Kerala (12) and the highest in Madhya Pradesh (56) followed by Assam (55), Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh (53 each) against a national IMR of 42. Birth rate was also lowest in Kerala (14.9) and highest in Bihar (27.7) against a national average of 21.6. Death rate was lowest in Maharashtra and West Bengal (6.3) and highest in Odisha (8.5) against a national average of 7.0.

Social sector programmes

Progress in terms of 24x7 primary and other health centre facilities under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is highest in Karnataka (2328) followed by Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, and lowest in Himachal Pradesh (156) and Haryana (398).

Human development consideration to guide social sector programme design and state fund devolution criteria across states. The Economic Survey 2013-14 recommends incorporating human development metrics into design and implementation of social sector programmes and into criteria for devolution of funds to states, based on inter state comparisons showing divergent performance across demographic, growth, poverty and health indicators and uneven implementation of primary health facilities under NRHM.