Himachal Pradesh
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Area |
55,673 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
6,077,900 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
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Capital |
Shimla |
|
Important Contact Numbers |
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Principal
Languages |
Hindi & Pahari |
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Development Initiatives |
HISTORY
AND GEOGRAPHY
Himachal situated in the heart of the Western
Himalya, identified as “Dev Bhumi”
is believed to be the abode of God and Goddesses.
The entire State is punctuated with stone as
well as wood temples. The rich culture and traditions
has made Himachal unique in itself. The shadowy
valleys,rugged crags,glaciers and gigantic pines
and roaring rivers and exquisite flora and fauna
composes the symphony that is for ever Himachal.
The north-eastern part of the State is decorated
with snow-covered, silver-headed mountains,
halcyon lakes and green stretches of prairies.
The State is rich in flora and fauna. In the
north it is contiguous to Jammu and Kashmir,
and in the south-east, it adjoins the hilly
areas of Uttar Pradesh. In the south and on
the western side, the territory is bordered
by Haryana and Punjab respectively, whereas
on the east it borders Tibet.
The State came into being as a union territory
in April 1948, as a result of integration of
30 princely states spread over 27,000 sq km.
In 1954, when another 'C' class State of Bilaspur
merged with Himachal Pradesh, its area increased
to 28,241 sq km. The position remained unchanged
till 1966, when on reorganisation of the states,
the hilly areas of Punjab were merged with the
state increasing its size to 55,673 sq km. Proportionately,
the population also increased from 1.4 million
to 2.8 million, now standing at 60,77,248 according
to census 2001.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture being the main occupation of the
people of Himachal Pradesh has an important
role in the economy of the State. It provides
direct employment to about 71 per cent of the
main working population. Income from the agriculture
and allied sector accounts for nearly 22.5 per
cent of the total State Domestic Product. Out
of the total geographical area of 55.673 lakh
hectares, the area of operational holding is
about 9.99 lakh hectares owned by 8.63 lakh
farmers. The marginal and small farmers constitute
84.5 per cent of the total land holdings. The
cultivated area in the State is only 10.4 per
cent. About 80 per cent of the area is rain-fed.
Under the diversification approach, major emphasis
is being laid on the production of off-season
vegetables, quality vegetable seeds, potato
and ginger besides soybean, oilseeds and pulses.
A project-based approach has been adopted to
increase vegetable production. At present, about
41,500 hectare area is under vegetable production
with production level of 7.85 lakh tonne. Loanee
and non-loanee farmers have been covered and
initially maize, rice, wheat, barley and potato
crops have been brought under the purview of
the scheme. To educate the farmers about the
latest technical know-how, the extensive network
in the State has been energised for achieving
accelerated growth in Agriculture, H.R.D. and
water conservation, with proper natural resources
management been accordingly prioritised.
HORTICULTURE
Nature has endowed Himachal Pradesh with a wide
range of agro-climatic conditions, which have
helped the farmers to cultivate a large variety
of fruits ranging from temperate to sub-tropical.
The main fruits under cultivation are apple,
pear, peach, plum, apricot nut fruit, citrus
fruits mango, litchi, guava and strawberry,
etc. The total area under fruit cultivation,
which was only 792 hectare in 1950, has increased
to more than 2 lakh hectares. Similarly, the
fruit production has also increased from 1200
MT in 1950 to 6.92 lakh tonnes in 2005. The
target for fruit production for year 2005-2006
has been fixed 7 lakh tonnes. Horticulture generates
gross domestic income of about Rs. 1000 crore
annually.
The Horticulture Technology Mission for the
integrated development of horticulture is being
implemented with a total outlay of Rs. 80 crore
during the tenth five-year plan period. This
Mission is based on the “end to end approach”
taking into account the entire gamut of horticulture
development with all backward and forward linkages
in holistic manner. Under this scheme four centres
of excellence are being created in different
Agro-Climatic Zones with common facilities like
water harvesting, vermicompost, greenhouses,
organic
farming and farm mechanisation.
ROADS
Roads are the lifeline and major means of communication
in the predominantly hilly State of Himachal
Pradesh. The tremendous potential inherent in
various fields in Himachal Pradesh could not
be exploited for economic growth in the past
due to lack of means of communication. Out of
its 55,673 km area, 36,700 km is inhabited and
its 16,807 inhabited villages are scattered
over slopes of numerous hill ranges and valleys.
When the Pradesh came into existence in 1948,
there were 288 km of roads, which has gone up
to 23,788 km. The State has 8 National Highways
having a total road length of 1,235 km.
HYDRO-POWER GENERATION
Himachal Pradesh has immense hydro-potential
in its five river basins. Chenab, Rabi, Beas,
Satluj and Yamuna which emanates from the western
Himalayas pass through the State. The strategy
of development in the power sector comprises
of expeditions actualisation of the Hydro Electric
Potential and introduction of power sector reforms
to bring efficiency in the sector and provide
high quality power to the consumers at reasonable
rates besides availability of abundant power
to industrial and tourism sectors. The total
identified potential in the State stands at
21000 M.W which is one fourth of India’s
total hydro-power potential. Presently out of
this 6,067 M.W has already been harnessed by
various agencies. Projects aggregating to 7,602
M.W are under execution. It is on the cards
that State will have about 11,000 M.W actualised
potential by the end of 11th Plan.
There is no denying the fact that the way the
Government has embarked upon an accelerated
Power Development Programme. The State is speedily
moving towards a “Power State” of
the Country. All the census villages in the
State have been electrified and now left out
hamlets are being covered.
INDUSTRIAL GROWTH
Industrial development has been given big boost
in the State. Pollution free environment, abundant
availability of power and rapidly developing
infrastructure, peaceful atmosphere responsive
and transparent administration are some of the
added attractions and advantages that the entrepreneurs
get in Himachal Pradesh. 315 large and medium
and about 32,709 small-scale industrial units
with an investment of about Rs. 4255.78 crore
had been set up in the state generating employment
for 1.86 lakh persons. The sector is contributing
15 per cent to the State Domestic Product and
the annual turnover on this account is about
Rs. 6000 crore.
The State has formulated a new Industrial Policy
and Incentive Rules- 2004, which provides attractive
packages to the entrepreneurs for setting up
of Industrial Units in the State. 42 industrial
areas and 15 Industrial Estates with all basic
amenities have been developed in the State.
With a view to provide umbrella support to
existing and new ventures, the State government
has set up a State Level Single Window Clearance
and Monitoring Authority ( SLSWCMA) in Himachal
Pradesh under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister
to give permission to the entrepreneurs to set
up industrial units in the State. This also
discuss and solve all industry related and inter-departmental
issues, monitor and review the progress of units
already approved and proposed to be set up.
This Authority is also focusing its attention
on the development of quality infrastructure.
Presently 7040 industrial units with an investment
of about Rs.18045.30 crore envisaging employment
to about 2.52 lakh persons have been approved.
A proposal is also underway of setting up Special
Economic Zone in Kangra,Una and other districts
with an estimated cost of Rs.5000 crore.
The Central Government has also given attractive
package for setting up of Industrial Units which
also includes Income Tax Holidays. The State
Government is also giving several attractive
incentives including exemptions in excise duty.
INDUSTRY
Himachal Pradesh has made significant progress
in the field of industrialisation in the past
few years. There are 196 large and medium and
about 30,839 small-scale industrial units in
the state. This sector is contributing around
14 per cent to the State Domestic Product.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The Government of Himachal Pradesh has developed
an IT Vision-2010 in collaboration with NASSCOM
to make Himachal Pradesh an IT destination.
Under the IT policy, it has been decided to
accord the status of Industry to all IT projects,
including IT related services and educational
institutions. As such, all the incentives available
to Industry under the presently applicable Industrial
Policy will also be made available to the IT
units in the State.
The use of IT in governance is aimed at having
SMART (Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive
and Transparent) government. The State Government
official website at “http://himachal.nic.in”
is a web portal providing citizen centric services
to the citizens and it has got interfaces for
getting inputs from the grass root level. The
State Government is also in the process of creating
an H.P. State Wide Area Network (HIM SWAN),
which will also be connected to the Internet.
In the Phase-I of HIMSWAN, H.P. Secretariat
Local Area Network was established with a provision
to provide LAN connectivity to every third person.
All IT units in the State have been given Income
Tax holiday up to 2007. Information Technology
Park is proposed to be set up in the State in
Solan district.
BIO-TECHNOLOGY
Keeping in view the importance of bio-technology,
a separate Department of Bio-technology has
been set up and the State's own Biotechnology
Policy has been formulated. The Government proposes
to give sales tax holiday to all Bio-Technical
Units in the state up to 2012. Income Tax Holiday
for the first 5 years and 30 per cent rebate
thereafter and Central Excise Exemption 100
per cent for the first 10 years.
IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY
Net sown area in the State was 5.83 lakh hectares
till 2004.Villages have been provided the facility
of drinking water, over 13,000 hand pumps have
been installed in the State so far. For better
reform in water supply and irrigation sector,
the State Government has taken up a WASH project
with the total cost of Rs. 339 crore for irrigation
as well as for drinking water supply schemes
with Gesellschaft for Technische Zuoammeuorbeit
(GTZ).
Rs. 40 crore new drinking Water Supply Scheme
has been launched for Shimla town. The Government
of India has approved 471 schemes of Rs.7.33
crore under Swajal Dhara Programme. 49 small-scale
irrigation schemes of Rs. 16.31 crore have been
sanctioned by Centre Government to supplement
the efforts of State to meet out irrigation
and drinking water supply to the people.
FORESTRY
The total geographical area of the state is
55,673 sq km. As per record, the total forest
area is 37,033 sq. km. Out of this, 16,376 sq.
km. area is not fit for tree growth comprising
alpine pastures, area under permanent snow,
etc.
The cultivable recorded forest area is only
20,657 sq. km. Efforts are being taken to bring
maximum area under green cover by implementing
State’s own projects, Government of India’s
projects and also through external aided projects.
The World Bank has also been sanctioned a Rs.
365 crore Integrated Watershed Development Project
for the Mid Himalayas. 545 panchayats of 42
developmental blocks in 10 districts would be
covered during the next six years.Tere are 2
National Parks and 32 wild life sanctuaries
in the State. Total area under wild life sanctuaries
is 5562 Km area under National Parks is 1440
Km and total area of Protected Area Network
is 7002 Km.
EDUCATION
Education is important for over-all development
of a State. Himachal Pradesh has emerged as
the third best State in terms of over-all development
and performance. The achievements of past three
years have been lauded by India Today Survey
and has been adjudged number one State in Primary
Education and teacher student ratio. Himachal
Pradesh has witnessed literacy revolution as
we are second only to Kerala in literacy. State
has about 15,000 educational institutes, including
three Universities, two Medical Colleges, one
Engineering College in the Government Sector
and a number of technical, professional and
other educational institutions. The literacy
percentage of the State according to 2001 Census
is 77.13 which is much higher than the national
average of 65.38. The State Government’s
emphasis now is to ensure qualitative improvement
in the education besides need based expansion.
Sarva Siksha Abhiyan an ambitious project worth
Rs. 532 crore is being evolved with main objective
to achieve universalisation of elementary education
with the sole aim to spread the light of knowledge
to every nook and corner of the State.
TOURISM
Tourism Industry in Himachal Pradesh has been
given very high priority and the Government
has developed an appropriate infrastructure
for its development which includes provision
of public utility services, roads, communication
network, airports, transport facilities, water
supply and civic amenities, etc. The State Government
is poised to transform the State into “A
Destination for All Seasons and All Reasons”.
The State Tourism Development Corporation contributing
10 per cent to the State exchequer. The corporation
contributes more than Rs. 2.00 crore per annum
by way of Sales tax, luxury tax and passenger
tax. In the year-2005,Tourist arrival in the
State were 7.1 million of which 2008 lakh were
foreigners.
The State has a rich treasure of places of
pilgrimage and anthropological value. The State
has also the pride of being the home to Rishies
like Vyas,Prashar,Vashist, Markandey and Lamas,
etc. Hot water springs,historic forts, natural
and man-made lakes, shepherds grazing their
flock are sources of immense pleasure and joy
to the tourist.
The State Government is aiming at promoting
sustainable tourism,encouraging private sector
to develop tourism related infrastructure in
the State without disturbing the existing ecology
and environment. The main thrust is an employment
generation and promoting new concepts of tourism
in the State. In order to increase the duration
of the stay of the visitors/tourists a special
emphases is being laid on the development of
activities-based on tourism.
For the promotion and development of the State
from tourism point of view, the Government is
focusing on the following areas : (1) History
related tourism, (2) Identification of new areas/tourist
destinations and promotion of Village tourism.
(3) Improvement of Infrastructure, (4) Pilgrimage
tourism. (5) Tribal tourism. (6) Eco-tourism.
(7) Health tourism. (8) Promotion of Adventure
tourism. (9) Wildlife tourism. (10) Cultural
tourism. For the year 2005-06, there is an allotment
of Rs.444.01 lakh for the development of tourism
in the State. A sum of Rs.7.50 crore for the
development of Kullu-Manali-Lahaul & Spiti
and Leh Monastic circuit, Rs.21.00 crore for
Kangra,Shimla and Sirmaur Circuit . Rs.16.00
crore for Bilaspur-Mandi and Chamba circuit
and Rs.30.00 lakh for construction of tourism
information centre at Manali has been sanctioned
by Govt. of India, Rs.67.57 crore Central financial
assistance received for 1545 projects in respect
of festivals and other major events.
