Assam Sets Benchmark in Social Equity with Nation’s Lowest Consumption Gap
Guwahati :In a significant development for social justice in India, Assam has been recognized as the leading state in terms of social equality, marked by the narrowest consumption disparity among various communities. This data, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, showcases Assam's remarkable progress in bridging the economic gap between general and marginalized groups.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed this achievement to the inclusive teachings of Srimanta Sankardev, the 15th-century saint and reformer who envisioned a society free from caste-based divisions. “Thanks to His teachings, today we have the lowest consumption inequality as per GoIStats,” Sarma shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.Elaborating further, the Chief Minister emphasized that in Assam, people from different social backgrounds — including those from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) — enjoy almost equal purchasing power. “In simple words, in Assam, a general category person and a person belonging to SC/ST/OBC have nearly the same purchasing power,” he noted.According to the official statistics, the Purchasing Power Index (PPI) for communities in Assam is remarkably consistent:ST – 1.00,SC – 1.01,OBC – 0.99.These figures reflect a near-parity in consumer spending and access to goods and services, signifying strong economic integration across communities. The negligible variation in consumption patterns underscores Assam's commitment to fostering equitable growth.While several other states such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu also performed well on the index, Assam stands alone at the top — a testament to its progressive policies and inclusive development model.This milestone positions Assam as a model for the rest of the country in reducing economic disparities and promoting social cohesion, aligning closely with the broader vision of a casteless and equal society.
