In an op-ed piece titled "The Pinocchio Economy [of West Bengal]" in TOI yesterday (May 13), a leading economic journalist, Omkar Goswami, tossed out the following national and state level stats.
"Statistically between 1993-94 and 2003-04 the average [inflation adjusted] GDP growth for India has been a little over 6% [and] the variation around this average has been 1.5%." The corresponding rates for some Indian states were given as: Maharashtra 5%; Andhra 5.5%, Karnataka 6.3%, Tamil Nadu 5.2%, Haryana 5.9%, Gujarat 7.5%. In addition some reference was made to rural stats from the National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1999-2000: National average of rural populace below the poverty line: 27%. Average per capita rural expenditure lowest in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. National average of pucca houses in rural areas: 41%. National average of rural households with electricity:43.5%. National average of rural households owning TVs: 19%. How does Goa's growth rate compare and how does its rural heartland fare in terms of expenditure, assets and amenities?
