BIMARU States

BIMARU is an acronym used to describe the states in India that are considered to be lagging behind in overall economic growth and basic amenities like education, healthcare, etc. The term BIMARU was coined by the late demographer Ashish Bose in a paper presented to the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The term became popular in the 1980s and referred to the four states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. In Hindi, “bimaru” means “sickly.”

Background of BIMARU states

The BIMARU states have a long history of underdevelopment and lagging behind in various developmental indicators. These states are mostly located in the northern and central parts of India, with a combined population of over 470 million people. The reasons for their underdevelopment are manifold and can be attributed to factors such as low literacy rates, poor healthcare facilities, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of employment opportunities.

The term BIMARU was originally coined to describe the four states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, which had a high population growth rate and a low level of development. These states were found to be falling behind in family planning and population control. The poor health conditions, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure in these states had also resulted in high levels of migration to other parts of the country.

Impact of BIMARU on India’s development

The underdevelopment of the BIMARU states has had a significant impact on India’s overall development. These states account for a large proportion of the country’s population and are home to some of the poorest people in India. The poor social and economic conditions in these states have resulted in a lack of access to basic amenities like education, healthcare, and sanitation.

The BIMARU states also have a low literacy rate, which has a significant impact on the country’s human development index (HDI). The HDI is a measure of a country’s level of development that takes into account factors such as education, healthcare, and per capita income. The low literacy rate in these states is a major obstacle to achieving higher levels of human development in the country.

Efforts to develop the BIMARU states

In recent years, the Indian government has taken several steps to address the development needs of the BIMARU states. The government has launched several programs and schemes aimed at improving the social and economic conditions in these states. Some of these programs include the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which aims to provide connectivity to rural areas, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which aims to provide access to financial services to the poor.