Assam

WELCOME TO ASSAM

POPULATION

EDUCATION

HORTICULTURE

FISHERY

SERICULTURE

HANDICRAFT

BANKING

STATE INCOME

AGRICULTURE

LIVESTOCK

INDUSTRY

HANDLOOM

POWER

HEALTH

 

 

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:

 

Sl. No.

Particulars

Unit

1991 Census

2001 Census

Assam India Assam India

1.

Population

Lakh

224

8464

267

10287

2.

Decadal growth

Percent

24.24

23.87

18.92

21.54
3. Change in percentage of decadal growth Percent - - (-) 5.32 (-) 2.32

4.

Density

Per sq. km.

286

267

340

325

5.

Sex ratio

Females per 1000 males

923

927

935

933

6.

Literacy

Percent

52.89

52.21

63.25

64.80
  (a) Male Percent 61.87 64.10 71.28 75.30
   (b) Female Percent 43.03 39.30 54.61 58.70

7.

Urban Population

Percent

10.81

25.73

12.90

27.82
  (a) Male Percent 11.61 26.18 13.33 28.29
   (b) Female Percent 10.54 25.25 12.44 27.31

8.

Rural population

Percent

89.19

74.27

87.10

72.18
  (a) Male Percent 88.39 73.82 86.67 71.71
   (b) Female Percent 89.46 74.75 87.56 72.69

9.

S.C. Population

Percent

7.40

16.50

6.85

16.20
10.

S.T. Population

Percent

12.83

8.10

12.41

8.20

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲

 

 

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:

 

Year NSDP (Rs. in Crores)
At Current Prices At Constant (1999-2000) Prices
1999-2000 32010.66 32010.66
2000-2001 33759.76 32820.84
2001-2002 35093.91 33667.89
2002-2003 39393.94 35708.20
2003-2004 42927.35 37905.37
2004-2005 47512.69 39206.94
2005-2006 52389.64 41103.14
2006-2007(P) 57378.35 43781.79
2007-2008(Q) 62852.00 46432.61

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)

Year

Assam

India

At current Prices At Constant (1999-2000) Prices At current Prices At Constant (1999-2000) Prices

1960-1960

433 8769 359 7121
1970-1971 743 9351 742 8091
1980-1981 1673 9334 1784 8594
1990-1991 5315 10915 5440 11535
1999-2000 12282 12282 15881 15881
2000-2001 12803 12447 16688 16172

2003-2004

15487 13675 20895 18317

2004-2005

16900 13946 23199 19325

2005-2006 (P)

18378 14419 25956 20858

2006-2007 (P)

19857 15152 29524 22580

2007-2008 (Q)

21464 15857 33283 24295

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲

 

 

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:

 

Type of Institution

Number

                      Higher Education (as on 30th Sept. 2005)

1.

University

5

2.

Institute of National Importance

9

3.

College for General Education

(a)

Arts. Science and Commerce College

375

(b)

Junior College

209

4.

College for Professional Education

(a)

Agriculture and Forestry

2

(b)

Engineering College

2

(c)

Law College

22

(d)

Management Institution

1

(e)

Veterinary

2

(f)

Medical College (including Homeo/Ayurvedic/Dental/Pharmacy/Nursing as on Sept 2008*)

13

                      Secondary and Elementary Education (as on 30th Sept 2007)

1.

School for General Education

(a)

Higher Secondary School

620

(b)

High/post Basic School

5052

(c)

Middle/Senior Basic School

11347

(d)

Primary / Jr. Basic School

30099

2.

Institution for Professional Education (Under Graduate)

(a)

 Polytechnic Institution

9

(b)

Technical Industrial Arts and Craft School

32

3.

Teachers Training institution

(a)

Teachers Training college

40

(b)

Teachers Training School

1

4.

School for Vocational, Professional and Special Education

(a)

Commerce

36

(b)

Music and Dancing

43

(c)

Arts and Craft

26

(d)

Junior Technical

6

(e)

Handicapped

5

(f)

Juvenile Delinquent (Jail School)

4

Source: Statistical Hand Book Assam 2008

 

TOP▲                   MORE►

 

 

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)

Name of Crop

2006-2007

2007-2008

Increase of %

Rice

29.16 33.19 (Estimated) 13.8

Pulses

0.59 0.63 (Estimated) 6.78

Oilseeds

1.29 1.35 -

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

Target of Production of various crops in 2008-09:

 

Crop Area (Lakh hectare) Production (Lakh MT) Productivity (Kg./hectare)
Autumn Rice 3.70 3.77 1019
Winter Rice 18.00 28.44 1580
Summer Rice 4.75 10.83 2280
Total Rice 26.45 43.04 1625
Wheat 1.00 1.20 1200
Pulses 1.45 0.90 616
Oilseeds 3.89 2.18 560

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲                   

 

 

HORTICULTURE:

 

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:

 

Horticultural Crops

2008-2009

Area

(Area in Hectare)

Production

(Production in MT)

Average Yield

(Average Yield in Kg/Hect.)

Banana

52471

760874

14500

Pineapple

14026

219383

15641

Papaya

7172

129382

18039

Orange

8443

95068

11260

Assam Lemon

11096

82363

7422

Guava

4522

87195

19282

Litchi

4980

37794

7589

Jack Fruit

22472

171280

7622

Mango

4675

46041

9848

Other Fruits

3800

31350

8250

Potato

82435

669792

8125

Sweet Potato

8522

31964

3750

Topioca

2826

14524

5139

Chillies

16745

13394

799

Turmeric

13030

10423

800

Onion

7288

19605

2690

Ginger

20002

166776

8338

Coriander

25383

40079

1579

Garlic

8591

47233

5498

Black-pepper

3438

5680

1652

Other Spices

2642

4375

1656

Kharif - Vegetables

82401

1441471

17493

Rabi - Vegetables

164197

2978377

18139

Source: Directorate of Horticulture & F.A., Govt. of Assam

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

LIVESTOCK AND VETERINARY:

 

Livestock and Poultry Population in Assam, 2008 (Estimated):

 

Livestock & Poultry

Units

Particulars

A. Livestock
 

a) Crossed Breed Cattle

Nos. 430943
 

b) Indigenous Cattle

Nos. 7815062
 

c) Buffalo

Nos. 574820
 

d) Goat

Nos. 2772275
B. Poultry
 

a) Fowls

Nos. 10012032
 

b) Ducks

Nos. 3153441
C. Hospitals & Dispensaries Nos. 480
D. Production of Milk Million Ltrs. 824
  Production of Egg Million Nos. 490
  Production of Meat '000 Tonnes 29.9

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

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:

 

Production of fish seed (in Million Nos.)

Production of fish (in Tones)

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

3207.99

2062.61

3206.36

187378

181479

190320

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

INDUSTRY:

 

Financial Achievement under Industry:

(Rs. in Lakh)

Year

Allocation

Expenditure

2005-2006

1185.00

826.36

2006-2007

10130.00

9584.34

2007-2008

4630.00

2130.00 (P)

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

Production of Some Selected Industries in Assam, 2007-08:

 

Item

Unit

2007-08

1. Tea

000 tonnes

486

2. Wheat Flour

-do-

837

3. Coal

-do-

924*

4. Jute Textiles

Tonnes

9494

5. Cruid Oil

000 tonnes

3958*

6. Cement

-do-

213

7. Fertilizer

000 M.T.

346

* Figures upto February 2008

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

Industrial Estates:

 

Total Area (in Sq. M.)

No. of Sheds Constructed

No. of Sheds Allotted

No. of Sheds Occupied

No. of Unit functioning

1748095.4

351

330

330

214

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

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:

 

Sl. No. Item 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009
1. No. of Villages 9523 9683 9373 9373 9373
2. No. of family engaged

190166

196152

191436 239281 239281
2.1 Eri -- -- 134597 181758 181758
2.2 Muga -- -- 27063 30851 30851
2.3 Mulbery -- -- 29776 26672 26672
3. Total Area under Silkworm Food Plants (in hect.) 19241 18555 18392.045 18547.64 18547.64
3.1 Eri 7948 7293 7382.239 7530.90 7530.90
3.2 Muga 6755 7255 7298.742 7304.75 7304.75
3.3 Mulbery 4538 4007 3711.064 3711.99 3711.99
4. Yield of Cocoons
4.1 Eri (In MT) 652.23 700 886.71 1046.00 1080
4.2 Muga (in Lac. Nos.) 4705.00 4905.00 4933.0985 4302.00 5050.00
4.3 Mulbery (MT) 70.16 119 91.66 110.00 100.00
5. Production of Silk Yarn 592.09 635 772.66 881.31 923.00
5.1 Eri Raw Silk (In MT) 489.00 525 664.97 784.26 812.00
5.2 Muga Raw Silk (MT) 94.09 98 98.59 86.05 101.0
5.3 Mulbery Raw Silk (MT) 9 12 9.1 11.00 10.00

Source: Directorate of Sericulture, Govt. of Assam.

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

HANDLOOM:

 

Statistics of Handloom & Textiles in Assam, 2007-08:

(Production in Metre)

Handloom Training Centre No. of Trainees in Handloom Training Centre Weavers Extension Service Unit Handloom Production Centre
No. Production No. Production
102 1650 98 80357.5 20 5879.8

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

Statistics of Handloom Demonstration Circle & Weaving Activity in Assam:

 

No. of Circle No. of Villages No. of Weavers engaged
2006-2007 2007-2008
2006-07 2007-08 2006-07 2007-08 Part Time Whole Time Part Time Whole Time
225 225 11570 11570 1173691 140987 1174553 145201

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

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:

 

Number of units

Number of artisans

Production (Rs.crore)

30360

100482

7820.94

Source: Census survey of handicrafts sector (state wise report), NCAER, New Delhi, 1999.

 

Number of male/female artisans (in lakh):

 

Male

Female

Total

0.39

0.61

1.00

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):

 

Year

Funds released

2000-01

129.95

2001-02

133.60

2002-03

212.36

2003-04

257.29

2004-05 (upto February)

341.30

Source: Status position of handicrafts in NER.

 

TOP▲

 

 

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.

 

Generating Plants

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

1

Thermal (Coal/Oil)

300.000

60.000

60.000

2

Hydel

2.000

102.000

102.000

3

Gas

272.400

253.500

239.500

Total

574.400

415.500

401.500

Source: Economic Survey of Assam 2008-09

 

Generation of Electricity in Assam (In million unit):

 

 

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

A. Gross Unit Generated

1. Thermal (Coil/Oil)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

2. Hydel

0.0

0.0

15.438

510.181

3. Gas

756.435

808.047

852.101

1031.136

Total

756.435

808.047

867.539

1541.317

B Net Unit Generated

1. Thermal (Coil/Oil)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

2. Hydel

0.0

0.0

15.436

509.196

3. Gas

720.941

768.476

810.743

988.939

Total

720.941

768.476

826.179

1498.135

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

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:

 

Year

Number of Offices*

Deposits (Rs. in Crore)

Credit (Rs. in Crore)

2004 (March)

1256

14507

4612

2005 (March)

1272

17782

6271

2006 (March)

1234

20872

8763

2007 (March)

1262

25757

11154

2008 (March)

1317

31666

13057

* 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)

As on March, 2007

As on March, 2008

No. of Reporting Offices

Deposits

Credit

No. of Reporting Offices

Deposits

Credit

399

2090

1117

403

2496

1313

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

Credit Deposit Ratio of All Scheduled Commercial Banks in Assam:

 

Year

Assam

2005 (March)

35.2

2006 (March)

41.9

2007 (March)

43.3

2008 (March)

41.2

Source: Economic Survey Assam 2008-09

 

TOP▲                    MORE

 

 

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:

 

Hospital Primary Health Centres Dispensaries Bed C.H.C Sub centres Sub Divisional C.H.
22 610 331 7534 100 5109 13

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam 2008

 

TOP▲                    MORE