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Namastute.


Thursday, February 12, 2009

‘Orissa still one of the poorest states’

Express News Service , 12 Feb 2009

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD-BJP Government's claim of making rapid strides in industrialisation notwithstanding, the State continued to have the dubious distinction of being one of the poorest in the country.

As per the poverty estimate of the Planning Commission, the State topped the list with high incidence of poverty. While 39.90 per cent of the population of the State was living below the poverty line in 2004-05, Bihar is placed second with 32.50 per cent BPL families.

Although, the latest estimate of the Planning Commission said that 34 per cent of the State’s population is BPL, the economic survey for 2008-09 released by the Government today has BPL figures till 2004-05. The reasons attributed to the large scale poverty in the State are recurring natural calamities, uneven economic growth leading to regional imbalance, lack of irrigation facilities and quality infrastructure.

Although the State Government has been pursuing various strategies to eradicate poverty, the results of the poverty alleviation programmes are not satisfactory, the economic survey said.

A disproportionately large proportion of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes population in western and southern Orissa are still living precariously with very low economic base.

Rural poverty in the State is the highest in the country. Though the State recorded significant growth in food grains production during the last couple of years, agriculture growth is much lower than the national average. While majority of the population depends on agriculture, lack of assured irrigation has failed the farmers.

A large number of rural communities particularly in hilly terrains of western and southern regions of the State are physically excluded for want of connectivity and other infrastructure, the survey said.

Increasing unemployment is another main reason for poverty. The growing joblessness among the educated youth is a matter of serious concern for the Government and this calls for high level of investment to create gainful employment, the survey suggested.

Poverty, unemployment still major concerns of Orissa

PNS | Bhubaneswar , Thursday, February 12, 2009

Despite all the industrial growth, poverty has been the most intractable problem of the State. The State exhibits large scale of poverty both in terms of intensity and extent of spread. 39.9 per cent of people come under Below Poverty Line. It still continues to be one of the poorest States. This was stated in the Economic Survey 2008-09 which was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.

However, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at a constant (1990-2000) price of Orissa has increased from Rs 42,909.62 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs 73,542.26 crore in 2007-08 registering an annual compound growth rate of 6.97 per cent over the period. However, the natural calamities adversely affect the GSDP. While the GDSP was 9.35 per cent in 2006-07, it was 8.67 per cent in 2007-08. Negative or low economic growth rates during some years are due to adverse impact of natural calamities including the severe drought.

The per capita income of the State has also increased during this period from Rs 13,096 in 2006-07 to Rs 16,195 in 2007-08 at constant 1999-2000 prices. However, the gap between per capita income of Orissa and the National level widened from Rs 5,314 in 1999-2000 to Rs 6,366 in 2003-04 to Rs 8,061 in 2007-08.

Growing unemployment, particularly the phenomenon of educated unemployment, is one of the burning problems of the State. The backlog of unemployed persons has been estimated at 14.13 lakh persons in the State at the beginning of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-08) and it has been projected that about 10.53 lakh additional labour forces are likely to join the labour market while employment for 10.73 lakh persons is likely to be generated during the 11th Plan. By this end of the financial year, the number of unemployment persons will stand at 14.07 lakh and it will gradually reduce and by the end of the 11th Plan period, the number of unemployed persons will stand at 13.93 lakh. Though infant mortality rate has reduced, the number of child labourers over the years has compounded.

Agriculture and allied sectors continue to be the mainstay of the State’s economy with contribution of about 20.09 per cent to NSDP (at 1999-200 prices) as per advance estimates for 2007-08. Paddy is the major cereal crop and accounts for 95 per cent of the total foodgrain. However, Industrial growth is taking an upsurge. 71 MoUs have been signed. The investment comes to around Rs 3,05,752 crore.