AND now a method to quantify the quality of life—the Household Misery Index (HMI). Evolved so that "the population problem isn't treated as having to tackle a huge aggregate statistic representing people but as an issue that recognises their deprivation and basic needs." Soon to be published in a book, Meeting India's Basic Needs—The Human Deprivation Index , by Dr Ashish Bose, Professor at the Institute of Economic Growth.
The index has five parameters: Families without pucca housing, safe drinking water, toilets, electricity and proper fuel for cooking. On an HMI scale of 100, Orissa is the most miserable state with 79 points. With 14 points, people in Chandigarh lead the happiest life in India.
