Though the State’s position in health parameters such as malnutrition, anaemia is better than the national average, the situation in tribal districts are alarming says the Odisha Development Report 2020, published by the Odisha Development Initiative here.
Over a dozen of tribal dominated districts are above the State average of anaemic mothers and underweight children, the report highlighted further.
The ranking of overall index highlights that districts in the coastal and the industrial belt of north-west regions of Odisha are having better social development scenario as compared to other parts of the State.
In the case of basic amenities, five districts namely Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsignhpur, Ganjam and Puri have been maintaining the top ranking, while southern districts namely Baudh, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur and Malkanagiri were found to be the worst performing.
Eight districts in Odisha have more than 50 per cent tribal population. The report highlights that the districts with high share of ST population record significantly low levels of development in health, basic amenities, education, economic, and the overall social wellbeing. Despite the well-orchestrated interventions by the Finance Commission, the Planning Commission and other institutions, Odisha remained a low recipient of federal transfers and corporate investments, says Prof Amitabh Kundu, Chief Editor of ODR-2020 and Distinguished Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries at New Delhi.
Regional disparity in Odisha is a major challenge and needs special attention with specially designed development programmes and schemes, Prof. Kundu added further. Again, social inequalities based on caste, sex, region, lopsided development, rapid urbanisation, high distressed migration, and less income opportunities are noted to be major challenges in Odisha.
One fourth of the State population consists of indigenous people and over 90 percent of farmers who are small and marginal land holders depend on agriculture and allied sectors as their primary sources of income, the report which was released during 3rd Odisha Vikash Conclave- 2020, held virtually on Wednesday, states.