India has seen a phenomenal growth in the field of communications in last one decade. From the era of landline telephones, we have now entered the world of smartphones. The country seems more wired than ever before. The first set of final data from Census 2011 also confirms the remarkable growth the in the field of communications. About 63.2 per cent households in India now own a telephone connection, up from 9 per cent 10 years ago. But in spite of all the talk of development and “phenomenal growth”, Census further reveals a contradictory story of the country. The census says more than half of Indian households (some 53.1 per cent) do not have access to something as basic as a toilet.
These and many other interesting facts of changing lifestyle have come out in Census 2011. The data on housing, household amenities and assets show that there has been a complete transition in the country as millions have now access to high end technology and consumer goods but at the same time a massive number of people lack access to the most basic facilities.
Computers are still considered as luxury item with 20 per cent households in urban areas and 5 per cent in rural areas own one. Interestingly, almost 9 per cent of households that own computers, 6 per cent don’t have Internet connection.
Another interesting fact that Census reveals is the changing character of the media. It says the number of people watching TVs has gone up by 16 per cent, but a 15 per cent dip in the number of people using radios and transistors for information. A total of 47.2 per cent of households own a television; only 19.9 per cent have either radio or transistors.
Census findings show India’s uneven growth in different sectors. Evidently the government has succeeded in developing IT and communication sectors, but failed to push social development in rural and semi-urban areas at that pace. Do you think efforts should be made to achieve comprehensive growth? Let us know in the comments section below:
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