Bare Necessities Index (BNI) via Economic Survey 2020-21
The Indian Economic Survey 2020-21, in its final chapter, has introduced the Bare Necessities Index (BNI). Using the basic needs approach and building on the idea of 'Thalinomics' first introduced in the Economic Survey for 2019-20, BNI is a means of assessing equity in economic development across states and regions in India. This index uses 26 indicators on five dimensions of basic necessities — water, sanitation, housing, micro-environment, and other facilities (assessed using indicators like access to the type of kitchen, ventilation of the dwelling unit, access to a bathroom, electricity and type of fuel used for cooking). The index has been created for all states based on data collected by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2012 and 2018.
The survey states, “Government schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, SBM-G (Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin), PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana), may design appropriate strategy to address gaps to enable India to achieve the SDG (UN Sustainable Development Goals) goals of reducing poverty, improving access to drinking water, sanitation and housing by 2030. There should be effective targeting of the needier population be they in urban or rural areas or across states.”
This is interesting in many senses. One, the first step towards solving any problem is recognising there is one - the survey recognises that there continues to be a gap between urban and rural India as well as among income groups in access to basic necessities. Two, to bridge the gaps, the survey recommends that there must be effective convergence in scheme implementation at the Centre-state and local levels. This was first talked about in the sub-group of Chief Ministers on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes chaired by Shivraj Singh Chauhan back in 2015. Three, this survey recognises the work that needs to be done towards accelerating the achievement of all UN-SDGs. This is crucial, not just for human development but for economic gains as well. Four, BNI increases responsibility. Being a development indicator states not performing well have limited arguments against it.
Drinking-Water is now this Government's poster-scheme.
In the backdrop of this pandemic, it will be interesting to see how states perform on BNI over the next five years.