Social Infrastructure in India: Spatial Disparities and Determinants

By : Sandeep Kumar Sharma

Page No: 185-197

Abstract :
The availability of adequate infrastructure is imperative for the overall socio-economic and regional development of any country. The present paper purposes to investigate the variations in the level of social infrastructural development in India from 1971 to 2011. The study is based on secondary data gathered from Directorate of Census Operations, Planning Department, Directorate of Economics and Statistics of each state/UT of India for two reference periods, i.e., 1971 and 2011. The level of social infrastructural development has been examined with reference to three dimensions, namely, education, health and finance infrastructure covering 27 indicators. The spatial variations in social infrastructural development have been portrayed and discussed with the help of standardised index computed by using principal-components analysis. The study reveals the remarkable regional or inter-district variations in development of social infrastructural facilities. The study also finds out that these facilities are required more in densely populated northern plains and peninsular region of the country. The southern part and west coastal plain of country covering Maharashtra, southwest Karnataka and central Gujarat and areas around National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Himalayan region is well endowed with social infrastructural facilities.

Authors :
Sandeep Kumar Sharma
Assistant Professor of Geography, Government College Bhoranj, District Hamirpur, H.P.-177025.

B.R. Thakur
Associate Professor of Geography, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, H.P.- 171005.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2022.42.01.13