Bengal’s mixed grades in report

But the most disturbing feature was the increase in ‘‘landlessness’’ in rural households, despite vested land being distributed to pattadars. The West Bengal HDR incorporated an NSS data that showed landless rural households in Bengal had increased from 39.6 per cent in 1987-88 to 49.8 per cent in 2000.

The reasons for such an emerging trend were attributed to rising input costs for agriculture and stagnant crop prices.

The HDR referred to a study sponsored by the state Institute of Panchayats and Rural Development that found on an average 13 per cent pattadars who had received land but had lost it by 2001. The figure was stated to be a small percentage, given the small size of holdings.

Releasing the report, CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said the state government wanted the report to be ‘‘independent and impartial’’. The HDR was compiled by a team headed by JNU Prof Jayoti Ghosh.

The HDR noted rapid economic growth, compared with the rest of the country, led by small producers in agriculture, rural industry and small-scale services. Income disparity between the urban core of Kolkata and all other districts has grown over the years, the report said. .

Lack of employment opportunities was identified as another ‘‘pressing socio-economic problem’’. Job creation has shifted towards more casual, marginal, part-time and insecure contracts. Employment of women has also decreased considerably, the report stated.