Despite Gujarat’s chief minister Narendra Modi’s ‘vibrant’ efforts to attract maximum investment and augment agriculture output, the state has been pipped by states like Chhattisgarh and Haryana with higher net state domestic product (NSDP - current prices) growth rate. However, with 17.78% NSDP growth against the national average of 14.03%, the state has improved its position in the tally and scaled up to third position in 2007-08 from tenth and sixth rank in 2006-07 and 2005-06 respectively.
Chhattisgarh and Haryana have secured first and second position with growth rate of 19.52% and 18.04% respectively.
According to latest data published by the ministry of finance, some other states, which found place in the top ten list of state with highest NSDP growth rate, include Chandigarh (4th - 17.59%), Karnataka (5th -16.57%), Andhra Pradesh (6th - 16.32%) and Kerala (7th -14.20%) among others. Data for Maharashtra’s was not available. The national average of NSDP growth rate stood at 14.03% during the year against 15.17% in 2006-07. In 2006-07, Chhattisgarh was at fourth position after securing first slot in 2005-06.
Despite good progress on NSDP growth front, Gujarat is trailing on social front. According to figures published by the ministry of finance in its socio-economic review 2008-09, Gujarat stood at seventh position with 64.1 year age in terms of life expectancy at birth (2002-06). However in death rate (per 1,000), Gujarat secured eighth position among 15 leading states in the country, which is a good indication for the state.
Gujarat’s performance in gross enrolment ratio at school level is still poor as compared to other states. According to the report, Gujarat stood 15th for education in class I-V (6-11 years) and in case of class VI-VIII (11-14 years), Gujarat could not even secure a position among top ten states.
