Rajasthan Human Development Index | RPSC Preparation: All subjects - RPSC RAS (Rajasthan) PDF Download

Understanding Human Development and Poverty

• Objective of Planning and Policy: The main goal of planning and policy is to enhance human development, which involves expanding people's choices to lead long, healthy, and fulfilling lives. It is suggested that long-term economic growth does not always align with progress in human development. Thus, development should be viewed more comprehensively as broadening people’s choices, strengthening their capabilities, and providing access to meaningful opportunities. This approach contrasts with the older focus on per-capita income as a sole measure of development, advocating for a broader perspective on poverty that includes more than just one indicator.
• Human Development Indices: The concept of assessing achievements and deprivation through human development and human poverty indices was introduced by Prof. Mahbub-ul Haq. This approach was later adopted and advanced by the United Nations Development Programme and various independent researchers. Over time, new dimensions and methods have been added to the Human Development Index (HDI) framework to enhance its effectiveness.
• Human Development Index (HDI): The HDI is a composite measure that evaluates different aspects of human life, focusing on quantifiable elements such as longevity, knowledge, and living standards. It combines three main dimensions:
  • Longevity: Measured by life expectancy at birth.
  • Knowledge: Assessed through adult literacy rates and combined enrolment ratios.
  • Living Standards: Gauged by purchasing power parity and income.
• Human Poverty Index (HPI): While the HDI tracks human well-being progress, the HPI focuses on measuring levels of deprivation.
• India's HDI Ranking: According to the Global Human Development Report 2015 titled “Work for Human Development,” India ranked 130 out of 188 countries, with a medium HDI score of 0.609, showing an improvement of five ranks compared to 2014. The report emphasizes the role of work in enhancing human development amidst rapid changes in the labor market and ongoing development challenges. It highlights that India has generated numerous jobs and activities, especially in sectors like Information & Communication Technology, Clean Energy Projects, and MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme).
• Human Development Report of Rajasthan:
  • 2002 Report: The first Human Development Report for Rajasthan was released in 2002, focusing on promoting sustainable livelihoods in the context of globalization. It addressed agriculture and sectoral imbalances, as well as gender and health issues, and stressed the need for fiscal reform, macroeconomic stabilization, and a strategy for sustainable human development.
  • 2008 Update: An update on Human Development for Rajasthan was prepared in 2008.
  • 2015 Report: The preparation of the "Human Development Report 2015" is underway, with a focus on the themes of ‘Equity and Sustainability.’

Sector-wise State Scenario

Education plays a critical role in improving various social sectors such as health, women's empowerment, employment, and child development, and is essential for economic growth and development.
Here is an overview of the major education indicators for Rajasthan and India:

Key Points:

• Literacy Rate: Rajasthan’s literacy rate improved from 60.4% in 2001 to 66.1% in 2011, showing a net increase of 5.7 percentage points. Male literacy was 79.2% and female literacy was 52.1% in 2011. This resulted in a decrease in the gender literacy gap by 4.7 percentage points, compared to a 5.3 percentage point decrease at the national level.
• Drop-out Rate: The average annual drop-out rate at the primary level decreased from 8.4% in 2013-14 to 5.02% in 2014-15 in Rajasthan, while it decreased from 4.3% to 4.1% nationally during the same period.
• Net Enrolment Ratio (NER): Rajasthan's NER at the primary level increased from 77.8% in 2014-15 to 79.2% in 2015-16. In contrast, the national NER slightly decreased from 87.4% to 87.3% during the same period.
• Gender Parity Index: The Gender Parity Index for primary education in Rajasthan was 0.98 in 2015-16, compared to 1.03 at the national level, indicating a gender imbalance in primary education.

Health and Nutrition

Key Points:

• Infant Mortality Rate: Rajasthan has an IMR of 43, which is higher than India's 37.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio: Rajasthan's MMR is 244, significantly higher than the national average of 167.
• Total Fertility Rate: Rajasthan's TFR is 2.8, compared to India's 2.3.
• Child Mortality Rate: Rajasthan’s rate is 12, slightly higher than India’s 11.
• Crude Birth Rate: Rajasthan's CBR is 24.8, which is higher than India's 20.8.
• Crude Death Rate: Rajasthan’s CDR is 6.3, slightly lower than India's 6.5.
• Life Expectancy at Birth: Rajasthan's overall life expectancy is 67.7 years, close to India's 67.9 years. Male life expectancy in Rajasthan is 65.5 years and female life expectancy is 70.2 years.
• Malnutrition Among Children: The malnutrition rate in Rajasthan is 36.7%, with national data not available.
• Anaemia Among Women: Anaemia among currently married women in Rajasthan is 46.8%, with national data not available.
• Sex Ratio (0-6 years): Rajasthan has a sex ratio of 888 females per 1000 males, lower than India's 919.

Initiatives: The National Health Mission (NHM) includes both the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), which aim to address health issues in both rural and urban areas. The State Government has also implemented various schemes and initiatives to improve these health indicators.

Livelihood

• Rajasthan is marked by significant differences in terrain, livelihood, settlement patterns, and social identity. The distribution of income and assets is highly uneven. Agriculture and animal husbandry are the primary sources of livelihood, but agricultural output experiences considerable variability due to erratic monsoon conditions.
• According to the 2011 Census, Rajasthan had an estimated 299 lakh workers, with 244 lakh living in rural areas and 55 lakh in urban areas. The work participation rate (WPR) increased from 36.6% in 1981 to 43.6% in 2011. In 2011, the WPR for the overall population was 43.6%, with 51.5% for males and 35.1% for females.

Comparative per Capita Income

Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC)

• RSLDC was established as a non-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. The Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment (GoR) currently serves as the chairman. The corporation has set up a skill training mechanism involving over 350 partner agencies to deliver training programs throughout the state. Over the past three years, it has trained approximately 175,000 individuals across 200 courses in 34 sectors.
• The State Government has issued an order for the convergence of all skill development schemes from various departments under the Rajasthan Mission on Livelihood (RMoL). RMoL, as the umbrella organization, oversees these schemes through RSLDC. To enhance the effectiveness of this convergence, RMoL functions as the central hub for all skill-related activities in the state.