Tamil Nadu: Human Development Index | Tamil Nadu State PSC (TNPSC): Preparation - TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) PDF Download

Introduction

Human development encompasses both the process of expanding people’s choices and the achievement of improved living standards. It is about enhancing human capabilities, involving people in decisions that affect their lives, and improving their overall well-being. Economic growth supports human development but is not the end goal itself. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a key tool to measure progress in human development, integrating various dimensions of well-being.

Human Development Approach

• Human development is both a process and an outcome aimed at enlarging people’s choices and enhancing their quality of life.
• It involves active participation by individuals in shaping their own lives, rather than merely focusing on economic growth.
• It is broader than other approaches such as human resource development, basic needs approach, or human welfare approach.

Components of HDI

• The HDI combines three fundamental dimensions:
  • Life Expectancy at Birth: Measures the ability to live a long and healthy life.
  • Mean Years of Schooling and Expected Years of Schooling: Reflect the ability to acquire knowledge.
  • Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita: Indicates the ability to achieve a decent standard of living.

Additional Indices

• Inequality-adjusted HDI: Accounts for inequality in the distribution of each dimension of HDI.
• Gender Development Index (GDI): Compares female and male HDI values.
• Gender Inequality Index (GII): Highlights disparities in women’s empowerment.
• Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Measures poverty beyond income, including education and living standards.

Human Development Dimensions

Life Expectancy at Birth

• Indicates health achievement by showing how long a child born today can expect to live.
• A higher life expectancy signifies better health conditions and healthcare services.

Mean Years of Schooling (MYS)

• Measures the average number of years of education received by people aged 25 and older.
• Replaced literacy rates in 2010 as a more accurate reflection of educational attainment.

Expected Years of Schooling (EYS)

• Estimates the total number of years a child entering the education system is expected to receive, assuming current enrollment rates remain constant.

Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita

• Used as an indirect indicator of human development.
• Adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to facilitate cross-country comparisons.
• Reflects the average income a country’s residents earn.

Tamil Nadu Specific Insights

• Significant income growth from the construction sector.
• Unique increases in the share of registered manufacturing and construction income.
• High-income districts like Kanyakumari and Erode show more than triple the incomes of low-income districts such as Ariyalur and Perambalur.
• Variations in agricultural labor and rural poverty across districts.

Literacy and Education

• Increase in Literacy Rate: The total literacy rate in Tamil Nadu has risen significantly, from 62.66% in 1991 to 80.33% in 2011.
• Decrease in Dropout Rates: Dropout rates for different student categories have decreased. Students from Scheduled Castes (SC) have comparatively lower dropout rates.
• Impact of Welfare Programs: The reduction in dropout rates is largely attributed to various state welfare programs.
• Improvement in Completion and Repetition Rates: Both completion and repetition rates have improved over time for boys and girls across different categories.
• Enhanced School Infrastructure and Quality: Better infrastructure and improved school quality have contributed to better outcomes, including higher pass percentages.

Infrastructure and Education Quality

• Gross Enrollment Rate in Higher Education: The Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) in higher education in Tamil Nadu was 43% for the year 2013-14.
• Leadership in Higher Education Institutions: Tamil Nadu ranks first among Indian states in terms of the number of universities and technical universities.
• Dominance of Private Unaided Colleges: Private unaided colleges dominate the higher education landscape, making up 88.5% of all colleges in the state.
• Expansion of Technical Education (2001-2011): There has been significant growth in technical education in Tamil Nadu over the decade from 2001 to 2011.
• Growth in Medical Education: Similar to engineering education, there has been rapid expansion in medical education led by the private sector.
• State Skill Development Mission (TNSDM): The TNSDM serves as the central agency for conducting training programs for qualifications up to 12th grade and accrediting training institutions.
• Community College Role: Community colleges in Tamil Nadu focus on job-oriented, work-related, skill-based, and life-coping education.

Per Capita Income and Life Expectancy

• Highest per capita incomes are found in districts like Kanyakumari and Tiruppur.
• Life expectancy varies significantly, with top districts including Chennai and Kanyakumari, while lower in districts like Tiruppur and The Nilgiris.

District-Level Analysis

• Demographic and Developmental Progress: Tamil Nadu has seen progress in literacy levels and reductions in the total fertility rate, accompanied by demographic changes.
• Variations in Human Development Parameters: There are inter-district variations in critical human development parameters such as gender inequality, child development, multidimensional poverty, and food security.
• Performance of Districts: Districts like Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, and Coimbatore perform well across many indices, while districts such as Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Villupuram lag behind.
• Marginal Changes in Rankings: Although some changes have been noted over time, with Virudhunagar appearing in the top five districts, regional variations have largely persisted over the decade.
• Sharp Inter-District Differences: Despite overall improvements, there are notable inter-district differences in various dimensions of human development.
• Correlation with Other Indices: Districts with low human development levels often rank poorly across other indices as well.
• Gender Inequality: Gender inequalities in well-being persist across all three dimensions of human development in the state.
• Disparities in High HDI Districts: Even in districts with high Human Development Index (HDI) scores, there are significant inter-district and intra-district disparities.

Conclusion

Despite progress, Tamil Nadu shows significant inter-district disparities in human development. While some districts excel in various indices, others lag behind. Addressing these disparities is crucial for achieving balanced and inclusive growth. The focus remains on enhancing human capabilities and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.