Economic Survey 2020-21 : BNI

To assess equity, Economic Survey 2020-2021 constructs a Bare Necessities Index (BNI) at the rural, urban and all India level.

Background :

The BNI builds on the ideas of Thalinomics in the Economic Survey for 2019-2020, through which it had sought to examine the access to food in the country.

Key Points of BNI :

• The importance of access to bare necessities of housing, water, sanitation, electricity and clean coocking fuel for a decent life.

• The BNI summerises 26 indicators on 5 Dimensions Viz., 

Water, 

Sanitation, 

Housing, 

Micro-environment, and 

other facilities.

• The BNI has been created for all States for 2012 and 2018 using data from two NSO rounds Viz., 69th and 76th on Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in India.

• Access to water, housing, sanitation, micro-environment and other facilities improved in 2018  compared to 2012.

• The BNI using data from National Statistical Office (NSO).

• The value Zero to One (0 to 1) and indicates better access to bare necessities in a State which categories in three colours shows levels of States in map.

Green (above 0.70) : High level

Yellow (0.50 to 0.70) : Medium level

Red (below 0.50) : Low level of access

• The difference in colours in a map indicate the regional variation in the access to bare necessities for the households.

• According to Economic Survey 2020-21, by the government schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Saubhagya and Ujjwala Yojana access to bare necessities have improved in 2018 across all State in the country compared to 2012 in rural as well as urban areas.

• The Survey has observed improvement in access to other facilities which captures the availability of Kitchen, Kitchen with a water tap, good ventilation in house, access to bathroom, electricity use and type of fuel used for coocking.

• The Survey shows to a positive correlation between access to bare necessities and better health and education outcome.

• It observes improvement in child survival, decline in still births, malnutrition, and infant mortality with improved access to sanitation and clean drinking water.

• The electrification and access to toilets in schools has also increased educational outcomes.

Also Read : India's Innovation Index 

Source

PIB