HDI of Andhra Pradesh | APPSC State Specific Preparation Course - APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) PDF Download

Andhra Pradesh Human Development Index

• Definition of HDI: The HDI measures progress in three key aspects of human development: living a long and healthy life, access to education, and a decent standard of living.
• Top Countries in HDI: The top three countries in HDI are Norway, Australia, and Switzerland.
• India's Ranking: India ranks 131st in the HDI, falling from the 130th position. India's HDI of 0.624 categorizes it as having "medium human development," ranking it alongside countries like Congo, Namibia, and Pakistan. Among SAARC nations, India ranks third behind Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• Improvements in India: Between 1990 and 2015, life expectancy in India has increased by 10.4 years. Child malnutrition has decreased by 10%, and there have been some improvements in infant and under-five mortality rates.
• Positive Initiatives: Initiatives such as MGNREGA, Right to Information, National Food Security, and Right to Education Acts have been praised for their positive impact. The grassroots organization MazdoorKisan Shakti Sanghatan has been recognized for promoting social audits of government programs.
• Human Development Definition: Human development is about expanding people's choices and improving their well-being. These choices are diverse and can evolve over time and across different contexts.

Human Development Index (HDI)

• The Human Development Index (HDI) has garnered significant attention recently as a key measure of advancement. Its prominence increased with the release of the annual Human Development Reports (HDR) by the UNDP starting from 1990.
• The concept itself is not new and revolves around the fundamental aspects of leading a long and healthy life, acquiring knowledge and education, and having access to resources necessary for a decent standard of living.
• Andhra Pradesh has recorded an HDI of 0.9 according to the vision for 2029, showcasing the state's progress in human development.
• Annual estimates of infant mortality rates for both men and women in rural and urban areas of various States and Union Territories are crucial indicators.
• Andhra Pradesh's advancements, especially in comparison to the national average, indicate positive growth. However, there remains a need for further focus on the development of women.
• A report on Human Development in Andhra Pradesh, commissioned by the Government and conducted by the Center for Economic and Social Studies in 2016, revealed that Andhra Pradesh ranked 12th among 21 major states in India in 2004-05 and improved to 9th in 2011-12 on the HDI scale.
• The report also highlighted that regions in Andhra Pradesh with lower HDI scores in 2004-05 made significant progress and caught up with other regions by 2011-12, indicating reduced disparities in human development across the state.
• This trend is evident in various components of HDI, such as standard of living, health, and education, showcasing overall progress and narrowing gaps in development.

Steps Taken for Improvement in HDI Rank

• Promotion of institutional deliveries, strengthening of healthcare systems, training of service providers in emergency obstetric care and skilled birth attendance.
• Enhancement of postnatal and antenatal care, organization of community health and nutrition days, involvement of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in the community, establishment of referral systems including emergency referral transport.
• Training of healthcare providers in integrated management of neonatal and childhood diseases, education of ASHAs in home-based newborn care, provision of newborn care at all levels.
• Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, establishment of nutritional rehabilitation centers.
• Strengthening routine vaccination programs focusing on reducing morbidity and mortality due to acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases.

Efforts in Education and Social Development

• Implementation and enforcement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• Initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and National Program for Education of Girls at the Elementary level.
• Establishment of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Mahila Samakhya program, and schemes for quality education in Madrasas.

Enhancing Economic Well-being

• Improvement of public purchasing power through various income-generating schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Ensuring Food Security

• The National Food Security Act, 2013 aims to provide food and nutritional security throughout the human life cycle, ensuring access to an adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices.
• Human development depends on various factors, and the state has undertaken significant measures to ensure that all aspects receive equal and significant attention.

Challenges Faced by Andhra Pradesh

• Unemployment and Migration continue to pose challenges for Andhra Pradesh.
• The state needs to address regional imbalances between its coastal regions and remote areas.