WB pats AP on progress

Hyderabad, Nov. 28: The rapid growth in the state’s economy has brought down poverty levels by more than half and increased the standards of living, a World Bank report notes approvingly.

The report ‘India: Achieving Rapid and Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Development’ is highly appreciative of the turnaround of the economy, particularly in the rural sector.

The poverty rate, which was 15.8 per cent a decade ago, has fallen to 8.5 per cent. The economy grew at an annual rate of 5.3 per cent during 1990s and this went to 7.5 per cent in 2004-2006 and touched 10.6 per cent in 2009.

The report also talked about improvement in the access to education. The recent surveys, it said, have revealed that only 7.4 per cent of children are out of school and 97 per cent towns and villages have either a regular school or alternative centre within a kilometre. Further, the report categorised the state as a middle income state on a strong reform path. A pat came to the state power sector which is best managed having a third highest credit rating.

“Incomes and assets have increased for 90 per cent rural poor including 90 lakh women,” it said and attributed the success to the thrift movement through the women’s self-help groups. The report expressed concern over the mixed results AP recorded in the health sector. It said the state is still lagging behind in some key indicators of social sector development like infant mortality, child malnutrition levels and high prevalence of anaemia in women.