Poll-bound States Kerala and Tamil Nadu secured first and second ranking in public affairs index (PAI) in governance in States, while Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha are lagging on this front, a latest survey of think-tank Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bengaluru, has revealed. Karnataka secured third position while Gujarat stood fifth.

Karnataka secured top position among all States in the category of providing adequate and effective social protection for its citizens. West Bengal, another poll-bound State, and Kerala secured second and third positions respectively.

10 themes

The survey, which was based on 10 themes, 25 focus subjects and 68 indicators, said Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi secured top three ranks among the small States (less than two crore population).

Karnataka, which ranked ninth in the ease of doing business of the World Bank report released last year, was placed at an impressive overall rank three in the PAC survey. The State stood second in both transparency and public accountability and environment. However, it lagged behind in delivery of justice, with a rank of 13.

The State performed above average in women and children category, crime, law and order. “Education and health are said to be the pillars of development and it is worth mentioning that the State has performed well and has bagged second rank,” the survey said.

Kerala secured 18th rank in the ease of doing business report. “This latest ranking in governance will give a breath of fresh air to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the run-up to the elections,” said Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson.

The ranking will also help Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the run-up to the election campaign. Tamil Nadu had stood at 12th position in the World Bank’s report.

The former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachaliah released the report in the presence of a few Chief Secretaries of States. The survey, written by C.K. Mathew, Athreya Mukunthan and Vivek Divekar of the PAC, was conducted based on the latest data provided by State governments.

Punjab, which secured overall 6th rank, bagged top spot on the infrastructure front, followed by Haryana and Gujarat. Among small States, Delhi led, followed by Goa and Himachal Pradesh. In maintenance of law and order, Tamil Nadu topped the list, followed by Gujarat and Kerala.

Karnataka secures third position while Gujarat stands fifth, according to survey