Some progress, gaps galore: Bihar's development remains a challenge

India Today

2 days ago

As with any Indian election, development is an oft-repeated word in Bihar right now. But poll promises or not, data shows that the state continues to struggle with basic human development indicators.Low literacy, high dropoutThe literacy rate in the state was 61.8 per cent as of the 2011 census, significantly lower than the national average of 73 per cent, according to the NITI Aayog report, Macro and Fiscal Landscapeof the State of Bihar.advertisement
At the school level, enrolment in higher secondary education (Classes XI–XII) was just 35.6 per cent in 2015–16, and the pass percentage for Class X board exams also reflects this. In 2016–17, only 55.4 per cent of students in Bihar passed, compared to 86.1 per cent at the national level. And the dropout rate in Class X was 73.3 per cent in Bihar, more than double the national figure of 35.2 per cent.Undernourished childrenNutrition is also a major issue in Bihar. According to NFHS-5 data from 2019 to 2021, 42.9 per cent of children under the age of five in the state are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age due to chronic undernutrition. This is higher than the national rate of 35.5 per cent. Similarly, 41 per cent of children are underweight.Anaemia is a major issue in the state, affecting nearly 70 per cent of children in Bihar, slightly above the national average of 67.1 per cent. However, Bihar's total fertility rate stands at three children per woman, compared to the national average of two.The state's infant mortality rate, at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, is slightly better than the national rate. Bihar's life expectancy is 69.5 years, almost the same as India's, which means many children in the state are growing up without adequate food, healthcare, or early life support.Basic utilities improving, sanitation still poorBihar has improved utilities, but basic sanitation is missing. As of NFHS-5 (2019–21), 99.1 per cent of Bihar households had access to improved drinking water and electricity access has also expanded. Both indicators had higher percentages in comparison to the national average.However, access to sanitation remains low. Only 47.3 per cent of households in Bihar had access to any kind of sanitation facility, compared to 69.3 per cent nationally. This means that more than half of Bihar's population either uses shared, unsafe facilities or practices open defecation.In terms of broader well-being, Bihar's Multidimensional Poverty Index is twice the national score. The state's Sustainable Development Goals Index score for 2023–24 is 57, while India's overall score is 71. This reflects poor performance across multiple areas, including education, gender equality, sanitation, and health. Bihar remains among the bottom-performing states in the national SDG rankings.Economic lagadvertisementBihar's developmental challenges are further reflected in its fiscal and economic structure. The state's nominal per capita GSDP stands at Rs 52,379, which is less than a third of the national average of Rs 171,498 in FY 2021–22.Bihar's economy also leans heavily on agriculture, which contributes 24.3 per cent to its GSDP, far more than the national average of 16.9 per cent, while the industrial sector contributes just 17.2 per cent, much lower than India's 27.1 per cent. This points to a weak industrial base and limited income-generating capacity.The data shows that while Bihar has made progress in some areas, serious challenges remain in education, child health, sanitation, and the industrial sector. And in the upcoming elections, these issues must be highlighted for a better future of the state.- EndsTune InMust Watch