There has been an improvement in the life expectancy at birth for males from 50.9 years to 60.4 years and for females from 50 years to 61.8 years. The overall literacy has increased from 43.7 per cent in 1980-81 to 63.1 per cent in 1998-99.
Moreover, for the first time in four decades, population growth has decelerated to below 2 per cent and this has been accompanied by a decline in the mortality rate from 12.5 per 1000 in 1980-81 to 8.7 per 1000 in the 1998-99. 2  BIS Review 78/2001  Yet, there is a sense of impatience if not despondency at our economic policies.