Assessment of Regional Disparity in the Level of Living Condition in Dakshin Dinajpur District of West Bengal

Abstract

The study tries to assess the living condition of households and associated regional disparities in terms of basic necessities like housing, essential amenities etc. in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal. A composite index was developed to measure the level of living condition which is a combination of three different indices-Housing Index, Physical Capital Index and Asset Index. All the blocks have been categorised and ranked according to the score of composite indices. Result of the study shows that there are wide inter-block disparities in terms of living condition of the households. Transportation facility in terms of road and railway connectivity is positively related with living condition of the household as the blocks with proper transportation facility shows better condition in terms of availing basic services and amenities. The study suggests that there is an urgent need of improvement in the existing transportation and infrastructural facilities especially in the backward blocks as well as balanced distribution of basic facilities for the enhancement of the condition of living of the households. Apart from this the planners and policy makers need to take proper measure for the upgradation of living condition.