Unpleasant facts from 2011 IndiaCensus

We have all read about the paradoxes in India following Census 2011, how the number of households with mobile phones exceeds the number of households with toilets. I’ve decided to dig in to the data available at Census of India website and see how much of it is true.

Here is a plot of the percentage of households in possession of various assets among total population and also in rural and urban areas.

% of population possessing various assets

Looking at the data, it is no surprise why the Tatas wanted Indians to buy Nano. While more than 21% has a two-wheeler, only less than 4.7% of the households have a four-wheeler.

Indeed 53% of the household have mobile phones.

Also, internet penetration has reached only 3.1% of the total and just 8.3% of the urban households. Smartphones with data plan might be the way forward for internet to spread. But then who will need internet if there is no electricity. Only about 67.2% of the households have electricity for lighting- 55.3% of rural and 92.7 % of urban. We haven’t been able to provide electricity to every household yet.

% of population using various sources for lighting

With this perspective, we can look at potable water and sanitation. 53% does not have latrine within premises and a 68% does not have access to tap water from a treated source.

% of population having access to various water sources

% of population having access to various sanitation methods

In spite of what the politicians and the media tell you, the plight of the poor remains dismally the same and has not improved even a bit.