Assam HDR,2014 : Average monthly per capita income in the state is  Rs 2055, Life Expentacy at Birth is 54 years

Although the latest SRS (2006-10) data has estimated life expectancy at birth in Assam to be 62 years (male 61 and female 63.2), the Human Development Report, Assam,2014 reveals that life expectancy at birth in Assam is only 54 years. It also reveals that Per Capita Annual Income (PCAI) of the state is only 24,660. i.e. Rs. 2055 a month. Life expectancy at birth and PCAI are two key human development indicators for measuring dimenstional achievements.

“The indicator of life expectancy at birth is used to measure the realised achievement in the health dimension that is ‘to be able to live a long life’. The life expectancy at birth denotes the number of years that a child can expect to live at the time of birth, given the age specific mortality rates in the population. The life expectancy, however, is an indicator of very long term improvement in health” – says the HDR, Assam, 2014.  

DISTRICTWISE STATISTICS OF LIFE EXPECTENCY AT BIRTH AND ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME

The  HDR, 2014 data show that life expectancy at birth is the highest in Kamrup district which is 71.88, and lowest ( 40.76) is in Cachar district. Relatively a higher life expectancy at birth was recorded in the districts of Barpeta, Chirang, Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, Goalpara and Marigaon. Baksa, Karimganj,  Hailakandi, Tinsukia and Sonitpur districts recorded relatively low life expectancy at birth.

The HDR, Assam 2014 has also reveal that the Kamrup Metro district has recorded the  highest PCAI with INR 63,444. However, there is huge gap between the first and the second highest PCAI district Jorhat. The PCAI of Jorhat  district is only 38,664. Hailakandi district has recorded the lowest PCAI with INR 16,632 followed by Dhubri with INR 16,336.

SPATIAL DIVERSITY STATISTICS OF lIFE EXPECTENCY AT BIRTH AND ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME

In spatial diversity section Hill blocks records the highest life expectancy at birth with 67.42 followed by Char blocks with 63.80. The tea-garden blocks have recorded the lowest life expectancy at birth with 49.10.

The PCAI is highest in General Blocks with INR 26,016, followed by flood affected blocks with INR 23,604 and tea-garden blocks with INR 21,588. The border blocks have recorded the lowest PCAI with INR 17,988.

RELIGION WISE STATISTICS OF lIFE EXPECTENCY AT BIRTH AND ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME

In religion category, the Christians enjoy the highest life expectancy at birth with 58.37 followed by Hindus with 54.26 and Muslims with 52.98.  In case of PCAI hindus have the highest PCAI with 28,092 followed by Muslims and Christians.

There is disarity in PCAI among different social categories. The average PCAI of the Scheduled Tribes is the lowest ( INR 21445).  

RURAL-URBAN STATISTICS OF lIFE EXPECTENCY AT BIRTH AND ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME

There is also rural –urban disparity. The life expectancy at birth in Rural Assam is 53.39 and in urban Assam is 58.37.

“There are obvious gaps in PCAI in rural and urban sectors. The average PCAI in rural areas only  about 40 per cent of that of the urban areas(INR 22,087 in rural against INR 56,157 in urban areas)”, the report reveals.

"In a state HDR, ideal replacement for GNI ( Gross National Income ) per capita is taken to be the Net District Domestic Product (NDDP) measured in constant prices. However, since NDDP are district aggregates, the underlying distribution is not now known.  To make the indicator consistent with inequality measures, instead of NDDP the average per capita annual income estimates of the districts otained from the HDR survey are used in the report," adds the HDR report. 

This is the first Human Development Report prepared in the country with new UNDP method. Guwahati-based think tank Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD) and New Delhi-based Institute for Human Development have compiled this 272-page report on behalf of the Planning and Development Department, Government of Assam with support by the UNDP and the NITI Ayog. The Assam HDR Survey, 2013 covered 39,998 households covering 187,511 individuals in 27 districts, 97 Blocks, 95 urban centres, 1972 villages of the state. the report is based on primary data collected in the largest survey ever conducted in Assam for development evaluation. which is ten times that of the National Sample Survey Organisation rounds and about eight times that of the National Family Health Survey in the state.

- nezine.com Editorial Bureau