Spatial Variation of Quality of Living in Selected Blocks of Murshidabad District in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Quality of living conditions refer to the general well-being of individuals and societies, which includes education, family health, employment, wealth, satisfaction, safety, religious belief, freedom, etc. This research paper deals with spatial variation of quality of living regarding various basic services and amenities in selected blocks of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. A composite index was developed based on 19 indicators to measure the actual scenario of the living condition of households there. Different indices, such as the human capital index, financial capital index, physical capital index and housing index, have been used to measure block-level disparity and were categorised based on composite score value. As expected, the level of development is unequal, with vast areas of backwardness interspersed with micro zones of development. The findings reveal that the northern part of this region is more developed as compared with other parts of this region. The quality of living and development of a particular region depends not only upon a single criterion but also on the interplay of several socio-economic factors that determine that region’s development level. This study suggests that the backward blocks need urgent improvement in most indicators to enhance the households’ living conditions.