Dr R. S. Bawa
Registrar
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
Shubhi Sandhu
Lecturer Department of Management
SBBSIET, Padhiana
Abstract
Economic development and prosperity of any state is immensely dependent on the level of its social infrastructure. Education, medical and public health are twin most important areas of social infrastructure. Punjab the food bowl of India and one of the most prosperous states is beset with handicaps and social backwardness. This paper is an attempt to analyze the level of educational attainment and health of people of Punjab. The comparisons have been made with the socially developed state of Kerala to identify human development concerns of the state and suggest policy and Institutional efforts to ensure reinforcement of social infrastructure.
1. Introduction
Economic development and prosperity of any state is immensely dependent on the level of its social infrastructure. Education, medical and public health are twin most important areas of social infrastructure.
Punjab is a state of paradoxes. It experienced many upheavals and turmoil. The state’s administrative map has changed twice in the recent past. In 1947 the political boundaries of Punjab changed due to partition of East Punjab (India) & West Punjab (Pakistan) and again in 1966 the boundaries changed on linguistic basis. The partition in 1947 uprooted a large number of people involving an exchange of populations, forcing them to leave their homes and hearth and enter as refugees. Fortunately in the Indian Punjab, they were quickly resettled in a record time of four years and Punjab was ready for initiating measures to embark on a fast growth path. Punjab began the consolidation of land holdings in 1951 and by 1963-64 the work was almost completed. At the same time, it established a network of canals for irrigation with the completion of the Bhakra Dam by the end of the 1950s. With the establishment
References: 1. Punjab State Development Report, 2004, Planning Commission, Government of India. 2. Human Development Report Punjab, 2004, Planning Commission, Government of India. 3. The Tribune, Chandigarh, January 20, 2009. 5. The State Report Presented by The Honorable Education Minister Of Punjab, Ms Upinderjit Kaur, March, 2007. 6. The Hindu, December 14th, 2007. 7. The Hindu, January 8th, 2009. 10. The Hindu, April 5th, 2006. 11. The Outlook, April 17th, 2005. 12. Human Development Report Kerala, 2005, Planning Commission, Government of India. 13. Punjab Report on Monitoring the Financial Aspects Relating to Sarva Shiksha abhyan, 2004, Institute of Public Auditors of India, New Delhi. 14. Economic Survey of Punjab, 2007-08, Government of Punjab. 16. Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 2007, Government of Punjab.