History has a way of repeating itself. The adage gains special significance in case of Punjab, which, thanks to the seeds sown over the time, is reaping rich dividends today. With Punjab emerging as the best overall state since 2003, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal attributes its repeated success to Punjabis being "aggressive and progressive by nature". The sentiment is echoed by Industries and Commerce Minister Manoranjan Kalia. "I marvel at the entrepreneurship of our people. We have no iron ore but have a successful steel industry in Mandi Gobindgarh, no wool but a booming hosiery industry in Ludhiana, no willow but a renowned sports industry in Ludhiana." An evenly irrigated Punjab is the leader in farm production The strong foundation for Punjab's success was laid decades back. The headstart in agriculture apart, a vast network of roads built in the state has kept villages connected to cities and mandis. The state, however, is cashstrapped, with debts mounting to Rs 40,000 crore, a falling standard of education and a poor power situation. Badal, though, refuses to take the blame. "What could not be achieved in six decades we have done in just two. We are working to add capacity with four thermal power plants in Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura, Gidderbaha and Goindwal Sahib," he says. Kalia touts the passing of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act, approval to 16 SEZs and 49 mega projects sanctioned since March 2007, adding that these will bring in an investment of Rs 36,574 crore. "From No. 23, we have climbed to No. 3 in VAT collection," says Badal. "When we came to power, we were 30,000 teachers short. We've filled half of the vacancies and are catering to 11,000 more in the next three months," adds Badal. Unfazed about the criticism on the scrapping of the MOU with Reliance Industries for setting up agricultural projects in the state, Kalia says, "They did nothing for two years. So they had to go." The Government's moves evoke a mixed reaction." They are providing the right infrastructure and things are beginning to happen. With IIT and ISB, Punjab will get a different feel," says NASSCOM Chairman Pramod Bhasin. Pointing to depleting water levels and overuse of chemicals and fertilisers, agriculturist Davinder Sharma says, "Punjab is surviving on artificial respiration. The way things are, the most productive land will soon turn into a desert." The Congress too has its reservations. "Every other day, explosives are found somewhere, indicating an attempt by terrorists to regroup. Law and order is pathetic and standard of education is falling. The Government can only think of how it can crown Badal as chief minister," says Congress MP Vijay Inder Singla from Sangrur. While the debate rages, the paradox that is Punjab continues to make headlines. PRIMARY EDUCATION Basic education deals with elementary schooling in a state. Literacy-the ability to read and write-remains the very basic measure of education and literacy rate captures precisely this.That, however, does not capture quality of primary schooling (uptil Grade V in most states); the proportion of children who have completed primary schooling by the right age is one measure of the quality of schooling. The teacher to pupil ratio is another. The female child continues to face biases at home and outside, and the female to male student ratio in elementary schools captures this facet of education in India. Overall, however, state expenditure on elementary schooling for each child in the state in the 6 to 14 year age group reflects the importance given by the state in ensuring education for all. INFRASTRUCTURE Infrastructure for the people requires us to look at a set of variables that reflect how the common man benefits from infrastructure- and not large industry or commercial enterprises. Consequently, we include the percentage of homes that have electricity connections, the percentage of villages that are connected to pucca roads, overall road length on a per capita basis and the spread of bank branches on a per capita basis. Access to energy is captured not just by electricity connections but also by including the number of domestic lpg connections on a per household basis. Communications-related infrastructure is captured by fixed lines and mobile connections on a per capita basis, and also by post offices normalised by the total population of the state.