Human Development Report Bundelkhand 2012 Bundelkhand HDR 2012 © Copyright 2015 NITI Aayog All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of NITI Aayog Photo Courtesy: Sanket Development Group, Ishan Tankha, Yashas Chandra Designed by: Roots Advertising Services Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi Human Development Report Bundelkhand 2012 Prepared under NITI Aayog-UNDP Project on Human Development: towards Bridging Inequalities Human Development Report Bundelkhand 2012 Acknowledgements The Bundelkhand Human Development Report is the first regional human development report in the country, that is the outcome of the strong commitment of NITI Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission), State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and UNDP towards enhancing the understanding of human development status of the region and to analyse the potential that exists for pulling the region on a faster and more inclusive growth strategy. The report is the product of extensive engagements with Government officials at the local level in both Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, academicians, civil society organizations and the people of Bundelkhand region whose voices have been incorporated under “People Speak”. Though the preparation of the report was initiated under the aegis of erstwhile Planning Commission, special regards and gratitude to Shri Arvind Pangariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog for providing the impetus for successful completion of the report. The guidance provided by Shri Alok Kumar, Additional Secretary, Shri Vikram Singh Gaur, Joint Secretary and Shri Sharad Pant, Director and other senior officials from NITI Aayog is gratefully acknowledged. The genesis of this report lies in the vision of Shri Tuhin Kr. Pandey, the then Joint Secretary, who understood the importance of undertaking this study to support convergence planning for this region. The Bundelkhand Human Development Report is also a product of cooperation and support provided by the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, led by the Principal Secretary (Planning) and senior officers. The District administration in these thirteen districts also provided valuable inputs that strengthened the report and offered insights. These contributions are humbly acknowledged. The valuable suggestions and the inputs provided by experts from UNDP, specially Dr. A.K. Shiva Kumar, Dr. Gyanendra Badgaiyan, Shri N.C. Saxena, Sumeeta Banerji, Alka Narang, Meenakshi Kathel and Ritu Mathur cannot be overstressed. The diligence and the perseverance of the team members of the ‘Human Development towards Bridging Inequalities’ project – Dr. Swayamprabha Das, Kavya Bopanna, Simran Bawa and Rosalin Mohapatra towards completion of the report is of utmost appreciation. The editorial support provided by Nandini Oberoi to firm up the report is acknowledged. The report prepared by Sanket Development Group (SDG) entailed engagement of various stakeholders and researchers. Sandeep Dikshit, Pallavi Mali, Sanjay Shrivastava, Devkant Tripathi, Jitendra Shrivastava, Gokul Pal, Satyajit Das, Babita Singh, Yogendra Malviya, Mahendra Kamatkar, Rashi Sarawgi, Bhawni Mehrotra and Tarini Dhody from Sanket contributed towards the preparation of this report. The report also benefitted from the immeasurable contributions of various individuals, non-profit organizations, civil society organizations. The contributions of the following stakeholders are duly recognized: iv Acknowledgements Gramonati Sansthan NGO District Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh Aronudaya NGO District Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Parampara Vikas Sansthan, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh Sarvodaya Sewa Sansthan NGO, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh Margshree Charitable Trust, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh Gram Unmesh, Banda, Uttar Pradesh Vidhyaman Samiti, Banda, Uttar Pradesh Paramlal Seva Samiti, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ganiva, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Development Services, Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh Development Alternatives, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh Kriti Shodh Sansthan, Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh Naina Sanskratik Vikas Prashikshan Sansthan, Banda, Uttar Pradesh Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Seva Sansthan, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh Bundelkhand Seva Sansthan, Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh Vidya Dham Samiti, Banda, Uttar Pradesh Institute of Social Development, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh District Poverty Initiative Programme, Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur, Madhya Pradesh Darshana Mahila Kalyan Samiti, Chhattarpur, Madhya Pradesh Mahila Chetna Manch, District Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh Darshna Mahila Klyan Samiti, District Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh Action for Social Advancement, District Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh Gandhi Ashram District Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh Tejaswani, District Chhattarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna, Madhya Pradesh Action Aid, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Satna, Madhya Pradesh Dalit Adhikar Manch, Sagar, Madya Pradesh Bahujan Hitkar Shiksha Samiti Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh Vikas Samvad, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Debate, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Anupam Mishra, Delhi Arundhati Dhuru, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pandey, Vice Chancellor, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh Bhartendu Prakash, Bundelkhand Resource Centre, Chhattarpur Bobby John, Aequitas Consulting Pvt Ltd., New Delhi Chinmaya Mishra, Journalist, Indore, Madhya Pradesh Devendra Yadav, Social Worker, Datia, Madhya Pradesh Jai Narayan Chaurasia, Betel Leaf Farmer, Chhattarpur, Madhya Pradesh Madhumita Bandopadhyay, NUEPA, New Delhi Meenakshi Arora, India Water Portal, New Delhi Ram Sevak Chaurasia (Retd Scientist NBRI), Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh Satyapriya, FAO, New Delhi Shyam Bohre, Development Professional, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh We offer special thanks to the field investigators and others who have facilitated the preparation of the Bundelkhand Human Development Report. v Hkkjr ljdkj Alok Kumar uhfr vk;ksx] laln ekxZ ADDITIONAL SECRETARY ubZ fnYyh&110 001 Tele : 011-23096564 Government of India E-mail : [email protected] NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR TRANSFORMING INDIA NITI Aayog, Parliament Street New Delhi-110 001 FOREWORD Bundelkhand Human Development Report is the first regional human development report for India. The report focusses on the people and their wellbeing in this region, spread across 13 districts in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Bundelkhand region, rich in mineral resources and vegetation, but inflicted by vagaries of nature and anthropogenic factors, demonstrates low human development achievement, with limited access to good quality health services, education and employment opportunities. The report attempts to document the developmental impediments in these thirteen districts (across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), that have been challenged by multiple factors like periodic drought, fragmented landholdings, feudal mind-sets, decline in water available for irrigation, low investment and low technological inputs in agriculture, industries, etc. Despite these adversities, the Bundelkhand region holds opportunities and possibility for steady growth through innovative Tourism policy supported by strong infrastructure and connectivity; modernisation of agriculture reinforced by better water management system and technology; and above all, sustained through strong financial and institutional setups. Strategic interventions, that address the aspirations of the youth of the region, also need to be integrated into the policy and planning process. The Bundelkhand Human Development Report is a concerted effort of NITI Aayog, the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and UNDP. This report has been prepared with the hope that it would serve as a guide for development planning of this region, so as to achieve higher human development goals. (Alok Kumar) vi Hkkjr ljdkj uhfr vk;ksx] laln ekxZ ubZ fnYyh&110 001 Government of India NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR TRANSFORMING INDIA NITI Aayog, Parliament Street New Delhi-110 001 Dated, the 4th May, 2016 MESSAGE The Bundelkhand Human Development Report comes at a time of change in the national planning process where social inclusion forms the crux of programmes that have been initiated to improve the capacities and capabilities of the people. 2. Bundelkhand, located in the heartland of the country possesses immense potential that can harness benefits from holistic and comprehensive planning process. It is heartening to see that the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have both demonstrated their commitment to growth and progress in this region, comprising 13 districts. Despite this, a lot is to be achieved to ensure the wellbeing of the people in this region to attain higher human development goals. Ensuring basic services, strengthening agriculture and industries, skill development of the youth and tourism would enable the region to bring higher living standards to all. 3. The Report, therefore, calls for enduring commitments and for ensuring sustainable growth of the region and the people. It is hoped that the recommendations in the report will enable the region to achieve its full growth potential and also allow better implementation of the welfare programmes and schemes. Arvind Panagariya vii Hkkjr ljdkj uhfr vk;ksx] laln ekxZ ubZ fnYyh&110 001 Government of India NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR TRANSFORMING INDIA NITI Aayog, Parliament Street New Delhi-110 001 Tel.: 23096576, 23096574 Fax : 23096575 Email : [email protected],