Why in news? The Karnataka Human Development Report 2022 says 10 districts in north Karnataka, have performed poorly in terms of multidimensional poverty index (MPI).

Highlights

• All districts in Karnataka have recorded an improvement in the human development index (HDI).
• For the first time, the government has estimated HDI and MPI at the taluk level. Mangaluru taluk has topped, leaving Bengaluru South second.
• Deprivation due to poverty and malnutrition is a “major” and the “biggest” challenge, according to a new government report.
• Karnataka is above the national HDI average of 45.9 per cent.
• The top six districts where HDI increase is “significantly high” are Bagalkot, Ballari, Ramanagara, Mandya, Yadgir and Koppal, even in Chamarajanagar, the district considered to be the most backward, rose its ranking considerably
• The 10 districts flagged for poverty are in north Karnataka — Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Bidar, Gadag, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Haveri.
• They need “focused approach with a package of schemes to address the deprivations in health, education and quality of life”
• The report describes nutrition as “the area of concern” and lists Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, Ballari, Bidar, Gadag and 102 taluks for high incidence of malnutrition.
• These places need “an integrated and holistic multi-sectoral approach.
• Even maternal mortality rate (MMR) is “comparatively high” in Dharwad, Chikballapur, Bidar, Hassan, Haveri, Shivamogga, Tumakuru and Chamarajanagar because 45.7 per cent of pregnant women aged 15-49 are anaemic or malnourished.
• On a positive note, it is reported that life expectancy has increased to 69.5 years and MMR is down to 69 per lakh live births from 83 in 2020.

Way forward

• The report has asked the government to lift at least 20 per cent of the population from poverty in Yadgir, Raichur and Kalaburagi to reduce the incidence of MPI.
• Report also mentioned about the government to focus on housing and agricultural interventions to increase farm productivity.
• Anaemic children in anganwadis should get special supplementary nutrition for 90 days to improve haemoglobin levels, adding that the government must spend Rs 85 crore over five years to eradicate child anaemia.

key indicators of human development in Karnataka based on the HDI components:

• The HDI has grown from 0.429 to 0.645 over 1990 to 2019 with an annual average growth of 1.42 per cent. Over the last two decades, the HDI of all the districts has improved significantly,” the report says, adding that Karnataka is above the national HDI average of 45.9 per cent.
• the report says life expectancy has increased to 69.5 years and MMR is down to 69 per lakh live births from 83 in 2020.

About Karnataka – Human development index

• The first Karnataka Human Development Report (KSHDR) was published in 1999 and The second Karnataka Human Development Report (KSHDR) was brought out in 2005.
• During 2005-08, State prepared District Human Development Reports for the districts of Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Udupi and Vijayapura with the assistance of UNDP to assess the status of human development indicators at the Taluk levels and the reports were released in 2010.
• It is a matter of pride that the reports of Udupi and Vijayapura districts were nationally recognized. The first ever India Human Development Award – Manava Vikas – was awarded to the DHDR of Udupi district for ‘focus on innovation in measurement’..
• Karnataka is the first state in the country to bring out report on Human Development: Performance of Grama Panchayaths in Karnataka-2015 with assistance of Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development.