Home in hills: Created for resources, representation, has left parent state behind in many key metrics, Pg21

Key Highlights:

• Uttarakhand, formed 25 years ago, has established a distinct identity but faces developmental challenges.
• Demands for a separate state arose in 1938, gaining momentum in 1979 with the formation of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.
• In 1994, Mulayam Singh Yadav's reservation policy triggered widespread protests, leading to statehood demands.
• HD Deve Gowda announced Uttaranchal in 1996, and the Uttar Pradesh Reorganization Bill was passed in 1998.
• Uttarakhand generally outperforms Uttar Pradesh in human development indices like education and infant mortality.
• Migration, underdeveloped education and health sectors, and frequent disasters remain significant challenges for Uttarakhand.

Detailed Insights:

• Early demands for regional rights in Uttarakhand date back to 1815, with Jawaharlal Nehru supporting the cause in 1938.
• The Ramashankar Kaushik Committee in 1994 highlighted concerns about political representation and resource allocation in the hill region.
• The inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar resulted in a significant non-Pahari population within the newly formed state.
• NFHS 5 (2019-2021) data indicates that Uttarakhand has a better sex ratio at birth in urban areas (1,094) compared to Uttar Pradesh.
• While Uttarakhand surpasses UP in education, deprivation in school education has increased from 4.37% (NFHS 4) to 4.65%.
• A CAG report (2016-2021) reveals a disparity in healthcare, with hilly districts facing a 70% shortage of specialist doctors compared to 50% in plains.
• The state's geographical distribution is 86% hills (4.6 million hectares) and 14% plains (0.7 million hectares).

Key Concepts Involved:

• Infant Mortality Rate: The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
• Sex Ratio at Birth: The number of females born for every 1,000 males born.
• Human Development Index: A statistic composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development.