A just-released study, тАЬPublic Affairs Index: Governance in the States of IndiaтАЭ, has once again highlighted that a state which achieves good level of economic development by inviting industrial investment as compared to other states, such as Gujarat, does not automatically claim to have achieved better levels of social sector indices.
The study has been carried out by Dr CK Mathew, Athreya Mukunthan and Vivek Divekar for the Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore, the study.
The study has been carried out by Dr CK Mathew, Athreya Mukunthan and Vivek Divekar for the Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore, the study.
It, interestingly, finds that Gujarat is No is No 1 among 17 major states in economic freedom, which has been arrived at by focusing on тАЬease of doing businessтАЭ, and No 3 (next to Punjab and Haryana) in essential infrastructure such as power, water, roads, communication, and housing.
However, a look at different social sector indices worked out by the authors, based on the latest available data, suggest that in the stateтАЩs support to human development, Gujarat ranks 10th among 17 major states, with only states identified as тАЬpoorтАЭ -- West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar тАУ performing worse than Gujarat.
However, a look at different social sector indices worked out by the authors, based on the latest available data, suggest that in the stateтАЩs support to human development, Gujarat ranks 10th among 17 major states, with only states identified as тАЬpoorтАЭ -- West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar тАУ performing worse than Gujarat.
In social protection, Gujarat ranks No 12 among 17 major states, with only five states performing worse тАУ Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana and Bihar. The study regrets, тАЬThe very nature of economic growth is such that only some people are able to extract the best out of the processes of growth.тАЭ
On the index of women and children, Gujarat ranks No 13 out of 17 major states, with states ranking worse being тАУ Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand, pointing towards unsatisfactory тАЬlevel of nutrition of childrenтАЭ and тАЬsevere issues regarding the manner in which women are ill-treated.тАЭ
While in crime, law and order, Gujarat ranks No 2, next only to Tamil Nadu, claiming how the state has able to тАЬdefuseтАЭ the communal conflagration in 2002, ironically, in the deliverance of justice, the state ranks No 11, with six state states performing worse тАУ Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam and Bihar Jharkhand.
The report states, тАЬIt is not the intention of this report to comment in any manner on the working of the courts, and hence we are restricting ourselves only to two focus subjects, namely the High Courts and the District Courts; here we look at the data pertaining only to the pendency of cases and the vacancies in the posts of the presiding officers.тАЭ
On the index of women and children, Gujarat ranks No 13 out of 17 major states, with states ranking worse being тАУ Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand, pointing towards unsatisfactory тАЬlevel of nutrition of childrenтАЭ and тАЬsevere issues regarding the manner in which women are ill-treated.тАЭ
While in crime, law and order, Gujarat ranks No 2, next only to Tamil Nadu, claiming how the state has able to тАЬdefuseтАЭ the communal conflagration in 2002, ironically, in the deliverance of justice, the state ranks No 11, with six state states performing worse тАУ Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam and Bihar Jharkhand.
The report states, тАЬIt is not the intention of this report to comment in any manner on the working of the courts, and hence we are restricting ourselves only to two focus subjects, namely the High Courts and the District Courts; here we look at the data pertaining only to the pendency of cases and the vacancies in the posts of the presiding officers.тАЭ
Interestingly, again, while ranking Gujarat quite high in environment, next only to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal, the study ranks Gujarat No 14 тАУ one of the worst тАУ in transparency and accountability, with only three states performing worse, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
The study says, the transparency and accountabi\\lity is тАЬa measure of governance is vital in the general perception of an informed citizenтАЭ, even as investigating how right to information (RTI) Act is being implemented in different states.
What should be a shocker to the Gujarat government, which claims to be one of the fiscally managed states, is, the study ranks Gujarat No 14 in fiscal management. The study believes, this theme is тАЬof paramount importance in the achievement of the long term goals of development and strengthening of the economy.тАЭ
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Download full report HERE
The study says, the transparency and accountabi\\lity is тАЬa measure of governance is vital in the general perception of an informed citizenтАЭ, even as investigating how right to information (RTI) Act is being implemented in different states.
What should be a shocker to the Gujarat government, which claims to be one of the fiscally managed states, is, the study ranks Gujarat No 14 in fiscal management. The study believes, this theme is тАЬof paramount importance in the achievement of the long term goals of development and strengthening of the economy.тАЭ
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Download full report HERE
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