Is KBK really backward??

I will put some stats together in a series of posts to find out if KBK really a backward region?


















As per 2001 census date Literacy rate in Orissa is 63 % and for India figure is 64.8%.Red line in the chart denotes the average literacy rate in Orissa.As you can clearly see in the charts the vaiation in literacy rate at state level is markedly high.KBK region fares the worst and coastal region has the best literacy rates.

NREGA performance

"Although Prasad is eager to ensure that all the estimated 5 crore families to be provided jobs under the scheme get their savings bank accounts, there are many states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which have been slow in opening accounts. Data indicate that only 10% of the wages to workers under the NREGA is paid through savings bank accounts in West Bengal. In case of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, the figures are 53%, 11% & 19%, respectively.

At the same time, states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Uttaranchal have virtually stopped cash payment of wages by providing banking facilities to all workers under the scheme. Even in states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Orissa, the percentage of total wages being paid through bank accounts are 76%, 72% and 67%, respectively. "


While 67% is laudable, question for the govt is why are we not at 100% and leading the charts??

Source:Business Standard

Railway route length - A comparative chart

Source:Indian Govt

Current GDP per Capita for Orissa based on figures available from RBI

States GDP per Capita in Rs
Jharkhand Rs 20,177
Rajastan Rs 22,649
Orissa Rs 22,630
India (Average) Rs 32,013
Andhra Pradesh Rs 34,063
Karnataka Rs 32,563
Punjab Rs 44,411
Haryana Rs 56,821

Medical Colleges: a comparative chart

Source:Deptt of Health, Govt of India









Source:Kerela healthcare deptt




Source:Orissa Govt






























Above chart should make it abundantly clear why we are behind other states in terms of Medical care.Kerala with a population below Orissa has 3 times more medical colleges and 10 times more hospital beds/1000 people.No wonder they continue to top the HRD rankings among all states.We have much catching up to do.State Govt must continue to build more medical facilities so that we can be the best in the country, not the worst.

Orissa farmers get Agriculture Bhagabat in Oriya

Alekh Parida, a marginal farmer of Madhupur village under Chandaka police station in Orissa's Khurda district, for a change, sprinkled pesticide on the basal region of the standing paddy. Littlie did he know that it would work wonder for the plants.

For all these years, he, like hundreds of other farmers, was accustomed to apply pesticides on the upper portion of the plants. Now the new methodology has made the crop areas wear luxuriant look.


It is no surprise that the production has shot up. Take the case of Tilak Dehury, they are all marginal farmers, even ignored growing of certain weeds along side the paddy plants being little aware of the fact that they cause more harm than good to the plants.

How did they come to know the basics of diseases and use of pesticides?

...More at

Source:Kalinga Times

Investment per Capita , Orissa vis-a-vis other states

"Every quarter the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) tracks all investment projects presently under implementation. This is a useful resource for measuring inter-state variation in investment. Investment is the foundation of future income growth, so this data shows a sense of how different states will fare in the future. In addition, changes in the performance of states in this regard measure the success or failure of the political leadership in creating a business environment that is supportive of investment." ... writes Illa Pattnaik.

Source: full column by Illa Pattnaik