While much has been said about India becoming the third global economic power by 2027, the growth has shown a sharp contrast among different states. NASA’s Global Gridded Relative Deprivation Index (GRDI), a measure capturing poverty, health, education, satellite imagery, and more, exposes these stark regional differences. The poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram exhibit GRDI higher than the national average, indicating low standards of living. But amongst all these states Meghalaya has the highest GRDI at 79.8 which indicates severe deprivation despite the abundant natural resources. On the other hand, Chandigarh and Delhi measure a mere 19.1 and 31.9, respectively, thereby reflecting relatively higher living standards. The GRDI showcases poverty levels on a scale of 0 (least deprived) to 100 (most deprived) and is calculated based on Infant Mortality Rate (IFR), child dependency ratio, built area and nighttime light intensity. What is interesting about this data is the Nighttime Light (NTL) Intensity imagery which is unique among remote sensing data sources because it provides a uniquely ‘human’ view of the earth’s surface. The presence of lighting at night across the globe indicates human activity late into the night.
GRDI isn’t just numbers; it measures real lives, aspirations and challenges which makes it a unique database. In India, that needs attention is not just growth but inclusive growth that encompasses populations across states. GRDI is unique in that it uses a 10 years data from 2010 to 2020, thereby showing long-term trends in deprivation. GRDI is calculated on the basis of six components used to determine the degree of relative poverty in the final index Child Dependency Ratio: Quantifies the ratio of children (0-14 years) to the working-age populace (15-64 years). It measures the balance between young and working-age populations. A higher ratio indicates a younger, burgeoning population. Infant Mortality Rates: Represents fatalities in infants under a year per 1,000 live births within that year. Acts as a health barometer, where higher rates hint at pronounced deprivation and health challenges.
Subnational Human Development Index: Assesses overall human well-being through education, health, and living standards. A lower index points towards areas with increased challenges in human development. Built Area: Examines the ratio of developed to undeveloped areas, indicating urbanisation rates and infrastructure development. A lower ratio suggests a region may face challenges often associated with rural areas. VIIRS Night-time Lights Intensity: Uses night luminosity as a proxy for economic activity and development. Dimmer regions typically align with areas facing economic hardships. VIIRS Night-time Lights Slope: Observes changes in night-time luminosity over nearly a decade. A declining brightness can signify waning economic activity and increasing deprivation. Meghalaya needs to take this and other data seriously and focus on rural poverty which is growing exponentially.
