Sub-State HDI in Karnataka and West Bengal: An Analysis of Regional Disparity

In the present paper an attempt has been made to examine the intra-state disparities in Karnataka and WestBengal taking into consideration of district human development index (HDI). It is observed thatcomparatively, West Bengal has higher intra-state disparity than that of Karnataka, which is evident fromthe coefficient of variation (CV). West Bengal has higher CV than that of Karnataka. A point here is to benoted that Karnataka’s under development is concentrated in northern part of the state in general andHyderabad Karnataka region in particular, whereas, West Bengal’s under development is in Malda andMedinipur divisions. There are increasing calls for separate state in under developed regions of both thestates. Between Karnataka and West Bengal, the movement for separate state is more in Karnataka, becauseof its visible north and south divide in all the socio-economic indicators (like HDI). Hence, state and centralgovernments have to take the serious steps to reduce the developmental disparities at sub-state and subdistrict levels, so that balanced regional development can be achieved without states bifurcation.