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Assam
Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 11:02
The land corresponds a world of contrast and excitement, something celestial and amazing. It is a Magic Land, a Green Paradise. It combines so many and such varied passions and beauties that one has to take a pause at least for its praise.
For Assam is identified no better than by its Bihu songs and dances, the Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary where the rare one-horned rhinoceros roams at will, silks such as paat and muga which rank amongst the finest in the world, the State’s tea which finds its way to millions of homes all over the globe, and the Shrine of Kamakhya which draws thousands of devotees every year.
Spread beneath the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, Assam has a history dating back to the Vedic ages. During Mahabharata age, it was known as Pragjyotish (Land of Eastern Light). In the Puranas and Tantras, Assam was referred to as Kamrupa- the land where Kamadeva, the God of Love, was reborn.
In ancient times Assam constituted a part of the land known successively as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura, and Kamarupa. Asom (Axom) or its anglicized version Assam is a comparatively modern name. Opinions on the root of the name vary with one view ascribing its origin to the Bodo word Ha-Cham which means "low or level country" and a second view ascribing it to the word Asama, meaning "unequalled" or "peerless", and used to denote the Ahoms, a Shan tribe which ruled the land for six centuries from the 13th Century A.D.
It was during the Varmana dynasty that Assam was chronicled in the SI-YUKI, the famed travelogue of Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim. After the 600 years’ Ahom-Kingdom, Assam became part of British India in 1826 and then a constituent state of Independent India.
Geographically, Assam is surrounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh on the North, Nagaland and Manipur on the East, Meghalalya and Mizoram on the South and Bangladesh, Tripura and West Bengal on the West. Since independence, many changes have taken place in Assam geographically and in many other respects. At present, total land area of it is 78, 523 sq. kms. It accounts 2.4% of the total geographical area of the country. Demographically, Assam is the most populous state in the North East India. Economically, out of the eight North East States, Assam is the most developed. But compared to other states like Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Assam lags far behind in almost all economic spheres.
►POPULATION:
According to the census of India 2001, the population of Assam stands at 2,66,55,528 of which 1,37,77,037 are males and 1,28,78,491 females. The decadal growth rate of population of the state during the decade 1991-2001 is 18.92%. Following table shows some important features of population of Assam:
Population Features at a Glance Assam and India:
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
►STATE INCOME:
The Net State Domestic Product of Assam in real terms i.e., at constant (1999-2000) prices has been estimated at Rs.46432.61 crore in 2007-08(Q) Showing an increase of 6.05 per cent over that of 43781.79 crore in 2006-07. This increase is the net effect of increase of 0.63 per cent in primary sector, 2.63 per cent in secondary sector and 10.26 per cent in service sector. At current prices State Income is estimated at Rs. 62852.00 crore in 2007-08(Q) higher by 9.54 per cent than that of Rs. 57378.35 crore in 2006.07. At current prices Primary Sector Registered in increase of 7.06 per cent while Secondary and Tertiary Sector registered a growth of 8.50 per cent and 11.87 per cent respectively.
Movement of State Domestic Product:
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
Per Capita State Income:
As per quick estimates for 2007-08 the per capita income at constant (1999-2000) prices is Rs. 15857 as against Rs. 15152 in 2006-07 and Rs. 14419 in 2005-06. In terms of growth rate, it increased by 4.65 per cent in 2007-08 and 5.08 per cent in 2006-07.
At current prices per capita State Income is worked out at Rs. 21464 during 2007-08 as against Rs. 19857 in 2006-07 and Rs. 18378 in 2005-06 and registered a growth of 8.09 pr cent in 2007-08 and 8.05 in 2006-07.
Per Capita Income of Assam and India.(In Rupees)
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
►EDUCATION:
In the field of education, the primary objective of state Government is the universalisation of Primary Education and Qualitative improvement of Higher Education. The number of educational institutions in Assam is listed below:
Source: Statistical Hand Book Assam 2008
►AGRICULTURE:
The economy of Assam is predominantly agrarian. About 99 per cent area of total land mass of the State is rural and almost 50 per cent of the total land area is used for cultivation. The net cultivated area of the State is 27.53 lakh hectares (2004-05) of which 23 per cent area is either flood or draught prone and the per capita availability of net sown area comes to around 0.1 hectare. The average operational holding is 1.15 hectare only and more than 83 per cent of the farmer family is small and marginal farmers. The contribution of the agriculture sector to the GSDP (at constant prices; 1999-2000 prices) was pegged at 22.85 per cent in 2007-08(Quick estimate) after steady decline from 32.24 per cent in 1999-2000. However, this sector continues to support more than 75 per cent population of the State directly or indirectly providing employment of more than 53 per cent of the workforce. The agriculture in the state mostly depends on rainfall. One of the most serious problems adversely affecting the state’s agriculture is the recurrence of devastating floods almost every year. Following table shows the productivity of some important crops grown in the State:
Production of Agricultural Crops in Assam:(In lakh MT)
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
Target of Production of various crops in 2008-09:
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
Assam is traditionally a horticultural State due to its unique agro-cliniatic condition which permits growing of wide range of horticultural crops like various fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, nuts, tuber crops and medicinal and aromatic plants. World citrus belt encompasses Assam within it.
At present, the area under horticultural crops is 5.40 lath hectares which is 14% of net cropped area of the State. This sector annually produces 14.02 lath MT of fruits, 39.16 lakh MT of vegetables, 2.18 lath MT of spices besides nut crops, flowers and medicinal & aromatic plants. The State is surplus as regards to fruits, vegetables and spices production. The important crops grown includes Pineapple, Banana, Orange, Lime & Lemon, Jackfruit, Guava, Litchi, Mango etc. and more then 10 Minor Fruits. In case of vegetables, mention may be made about Potato, various Cole Crops and Brinjal. Major spices grown are Chilly, Coriander, Black Pepper, Ginger, and Turmeric. In spite of all these promising potentiality, horticulture sector in Assam is still infant.
Following table shows the area, production and average yield of different horticultural crops.
Area, Production and Average Yield of some major Horticultural Crops of Assam, 2008-09:
Source: Directorate of Horticulture & F.A., Govt. of Assam
►LIVESTOCK AND VETERINARY:
Livestock and Poultry Population in Assam, 2008 (Estimated):
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
►FISHERY:
As per data made available by the State Fisheries Department, the State, from all the water resources has achieved a fish production level of about 1.90 lakh tones during 2007-08 against 1.81 lakh production during 2006-2007. But still far away to reach self sufficiency in productivity with regards to economic as well as nutritional demand.
Production of fish seed and fish in Assam:
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
►INDUSTRY:
Financial Achievement under Industry:(Rs. in Lakh)
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
Production of Some Selected Industries in Assam, 2007-08:
* Figures upto February 2008 Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
Industrial Estates:
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
►SERICULTURE:
Sericulture is one of the most important agro-based labour intensive rural industries of Assam. Following table shows area under different silkworm and their production.
Sericulture Activities in Assam from the year of 2004-05 to 2008-09:
Source: Directorate of Sericulture, Govt. of Assam.
►HANDLOOM:
Statistics of Handloom & Textiles in Assam, 2007-08:(Production in Metre)
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
Statistics of Handloom Demonstration Circle & Weaving Activity in Assam:
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
►HANDICRAFTS:
Assam has its own basket of handloom and handicraft products, which has own reputation in the world market. But handloom and handicraft sector in India as a whole is lagging in efficient appropriation of its potentiality and is struggling to reach the production and export possibility frontier. Secondly, there is a dearth of information flow among the participants in the market of handloom and handicrafts products. Following table shows the position of handloom and handicraft sector of Assam.
Number of artisans, units and production of handicraft sector:
Source: Census survey of handicrafts sector (state wise report), NCAER, New Delhi, 1999.
Number of male/female artisans (in lakh):
Source: As per census of handicrafts conducted by NCAER during 1995-96.
Funds released on implementation of developmental schemes of handicrafts of Assam (in Rs. lakh):
Source: Status position of handicrafts in NER.
►POWER:
Power is the basic infrastructure requirement for the growth of industries as well as over all economy of the State. The Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB), which was constituted in 1958 under Electricity (Supply) Act 1948, has been taking prime responsibility of integrated power development of the State. In purpose of the electricity Act 2003 and part as a of the Assam Power Sector Development Programme, the Government of Assam has set in motion the process of unbundling the A.S.E.B. into five Government Companies. The five companies are- the Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (GENCO), the Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (TRANSCO), Upper Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UA-DISCOM) for the areas of supply in the Upper Assam Region, the Central Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (CA--DISCOM) for the central areas and the Lower Assam Electricity Distribution Company Limited (LA-DISCOM) for the areas of supply under the lower Assam Areas. These initiatives are in the interest of all the stakeholders in the electricity sector in the state, i.e. consumers, shareholders, suppliers, creditor, infrastructures builders and the Government of Assam.
The installed capacity of generating plants in the State has come down to 401.5 MW in 2007-08 from 415.5 MW during 2006-07. The following table shows the installed capacity of various generating plants.
Source: Economic Survey of Assam 2008-09
Generation of Electricity in Assam (In million unit):
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
►BANKING:
Banks have an important role to play in stimulating economic development of a State or a country. In Assam, the widening network of scheduled commercial banks has been playing a crucial role in mobilization of savings. As on March 2008, number of bank offices of scheduled commercial banks in Assam stood at 1317, of which 403 were Regional Rural Banks. The average population covered per bank branch office (based on the Census Population 2001) in the State stands at 20,000 in March 2007 which is quite unsatisfactory, because at the same time all India average is 14,000. Following table shows the number of scheduled commercial bank offices in Assam, trend of deposit and credit over past few years.
Growth of Scheduled Commercial Banks:
* Reporting Offices only Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
Distribution of Aggregate Deposits and Gross Bank Credit of Reporting Scheduled Regional Rural Banks in Assam:(Rs. in Crore)
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
Credit Deposit Ratio of All Scheduled Commercial Banks in Assam:
Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09
►HEALTH:
The State of healthcare infrastructure in Assam is relatively better as compared to the other States of NER. There are three Medical Colleges, one Regional Dental College, one Ayurbedic College, one Regional Nursing College, three Homeopathic Medical Colleges, three Pharmacy Institutions and one Medical Institute (Diploma) in the state under the State sector. The State Government has initiated action to establish three more Medical Colleges in the state. Guwahati, the capital of Assam has a few super specialty hospitals as well as general hospitals and nursing homes. Following table shows the scenario of this sector in the year 2007:
Number of State Government Hospital, Primary Health Centres, Dispensaries, Beds, C.H.C, ETC in Assam, 2007:
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008
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