Andhra, Karnataka, Orissa rank low in basic amenities

The three states which begin to elect new assemblies tomorrow, are badly short of connectivity, water and electricity, as per Census Dept data.

There have been promises galore about providing connectivity, water and electricity, but these are woefully lacking in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa, which begin the process to elect new assemblies on Tuesday.

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Data released by the census department in 2003, ranking the states on the basis of available amenities, shows the three states in a poor light.

For all its claims of being the 'fastest moving state' and promises of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to make telephones available in all the villages, only 8.6 per cent of the total 16.84 million households in Andhra Pradesh have access to phones.

In Congress-ruled Karnataka, a mere 12.8 per cent of 10.23 million households have a telephone, while in Orissa, a miniscule 3.9 per cent of 7.87 million households have this facility.

The three states claim IT and telecommunications are a major thrust area for growth.

Rather surprisingly, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa rank even below Bihar, otherwise considered a backward state, in providing drinking water to households.

While Bihar is ranked 10, Karnataka is a low 22, ahead of Andhra Pradesh (24) and Orissa (33).

This despite the three states being fed by major rivers like the Cauvery, the Krishna and the Mahanadi. However, poor infrastructure has resulted in lack of supplies to the people.

Access to electricity is also a matter of concern.

Only 26.9 per cent of households in Orissa receive electricity. Andhra Pradesh is better off with 11.31 of 16.84 millions having power connections, a figure surpassed by Karnataka, which provides electricity to 8.03 million of its 10.23 million houses.

Less than a third of the population has access to banking services in Andhra Pradesh, which is known for encouraging self-help groups and micro-credit schemes in a big way.

The census data has found that small states and federally administered territories boast of higher rankings in providing basic amenities.

Thus, Lakshadweep, a federally administered cluster of islands off the Kerala coast, ranks number one in providing basic amenities to its residents.

Daman and Diu and Chandigarh, also federally administered territories, rank second and third in the list.