India ranks 135 on human development index: UNDP

New Delhi, July 24:

India ranked 135 out of 187 countries on the human development index in UNDP’s annual report 2014 released Thursday.

Human development index is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and income indices to measure the well being of a country.

On the gender inequality index, India ranked 127 out of 152 countries and on the gender development index, it ranked 132 of 148 countries, the report said.

The report added South Asia is the home to the largest number of multi-dimensionally poor people with illiteracy and inadequate healthcare facilities.

“South Asia has the largest number of multi-dimensionally poor people. An estimated 800 million people fall into this category and an additional 270 million are near poor,” the report, released in Tokya, said.

The report also said different categories of people in South Asia are at higher risk because of structural factors.

“Poor people are the most at risk, women suffer more than men, and the elderly are at particular risk. The disabled represents the largest category of vulnerable people in the world.

“People are more at risk if they have limited capabilities; if they have less education, poorer health, less income and if they are personally insecure,” the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report said.

In case of India, the report estimated that a comprehensive social protection, including old-age and disability pensions, basic childcare benefits, universal access to essential healthcare, social assistance and 100 days of employment, would cost only four percent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The report recommended a number of concrete steps that countries can take to protect the progress they have made and accelerate gains. These include universalizing social protection and basic services and ensuring full employment.

(IANS)