Child Equity Atlas - BIDS

Introduction
social deprivation and usable for multi-sector
social targeting of the most deprived upazilas
as it represents the education, housing, child
protection and water and sanitation sectors. The
index captures social deprivation poverty and
the results of the index can easily be used and
understood. The higher the CDI number the worse
the situation and, therefore, the more efforts to
be invested to achieve Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), focusing on the most deprived
populations.
1.5.7 The upazila map with its greater geographic
resolution, features patterns of performance and
glaring “worst performing” areas or disparities,
often obscured by national and “district averages”.
Thus 90 “high deprivation” upazilas were identified.
This combined with the 50 “highest deprivation”
upazilas, adds up to 140 upazilas (29 per cent of
all upazilas) being recognized as “most deprived”
upazilas.
1.5.8 The important thing about the 2011 Census,
when analyzed from the children’s socioeconomic
rights equity lens, is that it shows Bangladesh is
homogeneous but home to more challenging
disparities than thought. The robust census data
at the upazila and ward level shows the disparities,
especially within urban districts or districts with
isolated areas. The composite deprivation index
helps to focus on the most deprived areas. For
instance, the areas with the highest deprivation
tend to be both the least and most (urban slums)
densely populated areas. Combining the map
results and statistical analysis, we can conclude
that among the 50 highest deprivation upazilas,
only one has an above average progress in
literacy reduction and that these have been the
low performing areas for a long time (stagnant
areas are the hard core), most of them being
geographically remote areas, and have lowest
population densities.
1.5.9 The analysis reveals that more than good
governance, remoteness seems to be the big
driver of social stagnation. Thus, efforts to reach
and open up these areas should be increased, as
stated in the Sixth Five Year Plan 2011-2015.
1.6 Structure of the Report
1.6.1 The report is structured as follows. After
the introductory chapter, chapter two discusses
the population distribution and demographic
situation in the country. Literacy, school
attendance and educational attainment are
discussed in chapter three. The issues of child
worker and spatial distribution are presented in
chapter four. Chapter five is on housing, access
to sanitary toilet and electricity. The situation in
Dhaka City Corporation, also a proxy for urban
area, has been presented in chapter six. Chapter
seven presents the pockets of social deprivation,
and finally the summary and conclusion of the
report is presented in chapter eight.
Presentation of Data/Findings
1.6.2 As mentioned earlier, the report has used
the 2011 census data quite extensively. Results
obtained from the analyses are presented in
several stages using tables, graphs, and maps by
gender, area (rural-urban), division, district, upazila
and wards of Dhaka City Corporation. Indicators
used in the report along with their definition and
computation are given in Annex 1A through 1C
respectively. Presentation of results is made as in
the follow order:
(i) Graphs have been prepared for some of the
selected indicators by gender, rural-urban
and/or division and presented alongside
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