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Regional Disparities
Regional disparities in India are very pronounced and it has been a matter of debate since the First Five Year Plan. The reasons for regional disparities differ from level of socio-economic development of states, availability of resources, differential impact of colonial rule, difficult terrain, and the political economy of the states. In this context Bakshi, Chawla and Shah’s article “Regional Disparities in India: A Moving Frontier” (EPW, 3 January 2015) highlights the dynamics of regional disparities in India using Census 2011 data. The paper gives fresh insight into the issue.
Regional disparities in India are very pronounced and it has been a matter of debate since the First Five Year Plan. The reasons for regional disparities differ from level of socio-economic development of states, availability of resources, differential impact of colonial rule, difficult terrain, and the political economy of the states. In this context Bakshi, Chawla and Shah’s article “Regional Disparities in India: A Moving Frontier” (EPW, 3 January 2015) highlights the dynamics of regional disparities in India using Census 2011 data. The paper gives fresh insight into the issue.
However, I wish to comment on the selection of indicators for measuring regional disparities. I find that the magnitudes of seven selected indicators of this article are not coherently related to each other. The indicators of regional disparities in India are: (i) agriculture workers as a proportion of total workers; (ii) female literacy rate; (iii) household without access to electricity; (iv) household without drinking water and sanitary latrine within the premises; (v) household without access to banking facility; (vi) percentage of SC population; and (vii) percentage of ST population.
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