Assam achieves third highest rate of progress in HDI

Guwahati, Nov 14 (PTI) Assam has achieved the third highest rate of progress in Human Development Index (HDI) among all major states in India, according to India Human Development Report, 2011 of the Planning Commission. Assam registered 32 per cent progress in HDI for 1999-2000 and 2007-08 and if it maintains the current rate of progress for another decade it was likely that its overall human development would be ahead of other states, the report pointed out. HDI reflects three main components of development - education, health and per capita income. The report said Assam has shown the highest rate of progress in income index and third highest rate of progress in health index but is lagging behind the national average in the education index. With a hunger index of 19.83 (as in 2008) and ranked fourth, Assam is doing better than the so-called developed states with high per capita income namely Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat, the report added.