Comparison of the relative performance of the States on HDI
during the two time periods covered in our analysis shows interesting
results. We observe that there had not been major changes in the
overall HDI Score of the States, and in all cases their ranks changed by
one unit only. Some changes in the relative positions of the States in
terms of consumption can be noted, reflecting their relative growth
pattern, but in case of education and health the relative positions of
fifty percent of the States remained unchanged. We observe that the
aggregate picture do not always show the dynamics of different
components of HDI, e.g., for MP aggregate HDI Score had gone up
from 0.072 to 0.132, however its consumption score had gone down
from 0.052 to 0.000. A declining trend in the HDI is noticed for AP as
well. For MP, since health status remained unchanged it is only the
improvement in education, which had driven its HDI score up. Movement
in consumption expenditure is interesting; it had gone down both for
poor States like Orissa (insignificant poverty reduction over NSSO 50th
(1993-94) and 55th (1999-2000) round) and moderate performers like
West Bengal (9 percent poverty reduction over NSSO 50th and 55th
round). One reason may perhaps be that the decline in income inequality
(Gini ratio) in these two States over 1993-94 to 1999-00 (Government
oflndia, 2002) had been marginal.
4.3 Cross-Period Analysis between HDI and EQI
Figure 1 shows the EQI score of the States over the two
periods. It is observed that while the toppers during both the periods
lie in the North-Eastern corner of the diagram (Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra), the laggards are concentrated in the South-West corner
(Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, UP). For Punjab, Bihar and Haryana the EQI
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Score had gone down during Period B (1997-2004) as compared to the
earlier period. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh
and West Bengal seem environmentally vulnerable, given their lower
ranking in both periods.
Figure 2 compares the HDI Scores of the States over the
periods. For Orissa and West Bengal HDI Score had gone down during
Period B, which is due to the fall in score Ofconsumption expenditure.
While the States characterized by high HD Score are located in the
North-Eastern corner of the diagram (Punjab and Kerala), the laggards
are placed in the South-West corner (Bihar, UP, MP, Orissa and
Rajasthan). The condensation of States at the mid-level indicates that
there exist a sharp difference in the HDI Score obtained by Kerala and
Punjab and the same secured by the others.
Figure 1: Comparison of EQI Scores over Period
