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Created barely five years ago, Uttaranchal has made great strides in terms of growth. The breath-taking scenic beauty of the hill State makes it a major tourist destination. Besides, it has also emerged as a competitive investment destination.
Uttaranchal became the 27th State of the Union of India in November 2000 when it was carved out of the hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh. It borders Himachal Pradesh in the north-west and Uttar Pradesh in the south, and shares international borders with Nepal and China. It boasts magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, panoramic views of the Himalayas, dense forests, the valley of flowers and some of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimage sites.
The State's 13 districts can be grouped into three distinct geographical units: the high-mountain region, the mid-mountain region and the Terai region. This is believed to be the land where the Vedas and the Shastras were composed and the great epic, the Mahabharata, was written. No wonder it is also called Dev Bhumi (land of the gods). The State is rich in natural resources, especially water and forests.
The famous peaks of Uttaranchal are Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Trishul, Bandarpunch and Mount Kamet. The major glaciers include Gangotri, Pindari, Milam and Khatling. The Ganga, the Yamuna, the Ramganga and the Sharda are the principal rivers.
The rural population is engaged in agriculture, apart from tourism-related occupations. The State has immense potential for the development of horticulture. The region also holds the promise of a bright future for the herbal pharmaceutical industry, with its abundance of medicinal plants. Thanks to its rich water resources, the State has a huge capacity for power generation. There are 17 hydroelectric projects already producing electricity. Many ambitious power projects, including the Tehri dam, are under construction.
The Congress government led by N.D. Tiwari, an accomplished administrator known for his development-oriented vision, has given a new momentum to growth. The State has so far achieved an overall growth rate of 16.97 per cent and the projected growth rate for the next 10 years is 8.4 per cent a year. It aims to achieve industrial growth at a double-digit rate. A high literacy rate of 72 per cent, abundant skilled manpower, enough power to meet the requirement of industry, many hydel projects nearing completion, and an industrial policy that aims at growth have attracted private sector participation in the State's industrial expansion.
The State has secured investments worth Rs.10,000 crores from the private sector and much more is on its way. An NRU (non-resident Uttaranchal) investment cell, in addition to the NRI (non-resident Indian) cell provides single-window access for prospective investors.
The State government is working with the private sector to improve infrastructure and amenities for industries. But the government has taken care not to disturb the fragile hill ecology, a vital concern because of the role of tourism in the State's economy. In 2004-05, 14 million tourists visited the State. In order to encourage year-round tourism, infrastructure has been improved on the way to the Char Dham, that is, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, the four Hindu pilgrimage centres. New tourist destinations such as Corbett Country (an eco-tourism destination near the Jim Corbett National Park), a ski resort at Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi and a water sports centre at the Tehri dam, two new tourist circuits (Pauri-Khirsu-Lansdown and Pithoragarh-Munsiyari) and major trek routes are being developed.
Botanical-garden-cum-heritage-centres are being established to highlight the biodiversity of the region. Several measures are being taken to promote yoga, Ayurveda, meditation and alternative medicine to make Uttaranchal a destination for health tourism. In its tourism planning, the government is making all efforts to integrate various folk traditions. Tourism villages are being developed on major yatra and trek routes. Uttaranchal's folk arts, culture and cuisine will be promoted to add local flavour to the tourist experience and boost the traditional handicrafts sector.
Work is in progress on airstrips in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Chamoli and the Jolly Grant airport is being expanded to receive larger aircraft.
The other growth drivers of the State are agriculture, horticulture, hydro-power, eco-friendly industries and biotechnology, which largely benefit the rural people. The State's development plans are projected to result in a 100 per cent increase in the per capita income - from the current Rs.14,802 a year to Rs.30,000 a year - by 2014 and reduce the below poverty line population by half.
The Uttaranchal government is intent on improving the standard of living and providing employment to everyone under a 10-year-scheme which aims at making agriculture, industry and the service sector realise their potential. Special emphasis has been placed on the welfare of the weaker sections, women and the backward classes.
Education has been accorded top priority. The government has adopted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum for the entire State. Girls' education has been given special emphasis; each block has one girls' high school and the backward blocks have got Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas. The government has opened Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya schools for children in rural areas, where good-quality education and free board are made available to poor children. Each school has been equipped with computers. Computer education is imparted free of cost. The outlay for education has more than doubled in the past three years.
In 2002-03, Rs.156.28 crores was spent on education; the sum is Rs.421.45 crores for 2005-06. The government opened 1,310 new primary schools, built 1,140 new school buildings, appointed over 20,000 new teachers in different categories and promoted thousands of others in the past three years. The school dropout rate has come down to 2.5 per cent in 2005-06 from a high of 24 per cent in 2001-02.
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