North East India

WELCOME TO NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA

POPULATION

STATE INCOME

AGRICULTURE

FISHERY

INDUSTRY

TEA INDUSTRY

EDUCATION

BANKING

POWER SECTOR

 

 

The North East of India constitutes the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

 

Flanked by hills and with the mighty Brahmaputra river slashing a central path between its north and south, the North East is bounded by the States of Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura with Assam comprising the heart. Arunachal Pradesh lies to its north and Sikkim a little away in the North West bordering China and Bhutan. Bangladesh and Myanmar lie to its southwest and east. The torrential Brahmaputra deposits its rich alluvial silt along the banks of the plains of Assam. Tropical rain forest, rich in flora and fauna, spread their arms across Arunachal Pradesh into Assam. It is a land where tea is an industry, handicrafts a major occupation and martial arts a favoured sport.

 

The western side of the North East is connected to the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent by a narrow land corridor, sometimes referred to as the Siliguri Neck or "Chicken's Neck". The eight states that comprise the region reflect ecological and cultural contrasts between the hills and the plains; there are also significant elements of continuity. Available medieval and modern records indicate interdependence and interaction between the hills and plains. The North East is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. The forest cover varies but average 65 per cent is government owned. Village communities, individuals and chiefs own the rest. The area can be divided into three geographical divisions-the Shillong Plateau, the North Eastern hill Basin and the Brahmaputra Valley.

 

The economy of Northeast India has got its definite identity due to its peculiar physical, economic and socio-cultural characteristics. This region consists of eight states viz., Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim. The NER of India covers an area of 2.62 lakh sq. km. It accounts for 7.9% of total geographical area of the country. With a total population of 39 million (2001), it accounts for 3.8% of total population of India.

 

 

POPULATION:

 

Total Population - 2001 Census:

(Persons)

State

Population

Males

Females

Rural

Urban

% age of Urban Population

% age of Rural Population

Arunachal Pradesh

1097968

579941

518027

870087

227881

20.75

79.25

Assam

26655528

13777037

12878491

23216288

3439240

12.90

87.10

Manipur*

2166788

1095634

1071154

1590820

575968

26.28

73.42

Meghalaya

2318822

1776087

1142735

1864711

454111

19.58

80.42

Mizoram

888573

459109

429464

447567

441006

49.63

50.37

Nagaland

1990036

1047141

942895

1647249

342787

17.23

82.77

Sikkim

540851

288454

252367

480981

59870

11.07

88.93

Tripura

3199203

1642225

1556978

2653453

545750

17.06

82.94

Total NER

38857769

20065658

18792111

32771156

6086613

15.66

84.34

All India

1028610328

532156772

496453556

742490639

286119689

27.82

72.18

* Excludes Mao Maram, Paomata and Purul sub-division of Senapati dist.

Source: Basic Statistics of NER 2006

 

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STATE INCOME:

 

Per Capita Income:

 

The natural resource endowments and education levels of the population not with standing, the NER represents one of the least developed – economically and industrially – regions of the country.

 

This fact is clearly brought out by the following economic and demographic features of NER, as compared with that of the country.

 

Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices as on 15.09.2008:

(Rs.)

States

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

Arunachal Pradesh

19322

22185

22335

25836

Assam

15487

17013

18211

20166

Manipur

14728

18386

20326

22495

Meghalaya

19830

21232

22847

24672

Mizoram

21963

22417

23900

25679

Nagaland

20821

20998

21083

--

Sikkim

21476

23791

26412

29521

Tripura

21138

22836

25700

27777

Source: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO)

 

Per Capita Net State Domestic Product (at 1999-00 Prices) as on 15.09.2008:

(Rs.)

States

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

Arunachal Pradesh

17333

19336

18390

20431

Assam

13675

14149

14786

15623

Manipur

13389

16482

17950

19625

Meghalaya

16662

17618

18459

19238

Mizoram

18555

18904

19691

20618

Nagaland

17958

18147

18318

--

Sikkim

18159

19332

20609

22001

Tripura

18554

19825

21524

22987

Source: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO)

 

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AGRICULTURE:

 

The pattern of agricultural growth has however remained uneven across regions and crops. The NER continues to be a net importer of food grains even for its own consumption. In spite of covering 7.7% of the country’s total geographical area, NER produces only 1.5 % of the country’s total food grain production. Agriculture provides livelihood support to 70 % of the population of NER.

 

Area of foodgrains, 2006-07:

(Area in Hectare)

State

Foodgrain (cereals)

Total Cereals

Foodgrain pulses

Rice

Lowar

Maize

Ragi

Small Millets

Wheat

Barley

Gram

Tur

Other Pulses

Total pulses

Total foodgrains

Arunachal Pradesh

122

-

46

-

22

4

-

194

-

1

7

8

202

Assam

2189

-

18

-

7

60

-

2274

2

7

97

106

2380

Meghalaya

105

-

17

-

3

1

-

124

1

1

3

4

128

Manipur

166

-

3

-

-

-

-

169

-

-

9

9

178

Mizoram

53

-

11

-

-

-

-

64

-

-

5

5

68

Nagaland

165

1

65

-

25

2

-

257

-

9

29

38

294

Sikkim

15

-

38

4

2

7

1

67

-

-

7

7

74

Tripura

251

-

3

-

-

1

-

255

-

1

7

8

263

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture

 

Production of foodgrains, 2006-07:

(Production in '000 tonnes)

State

Foodgrain (cereals)

Total Cereals

Foodgrain pulses

Rice

Lowar

Maize

Ragi

Small Millets

Wheat

Barley

Gram

Tur

Arunachal Pradesh

146

 -

64 

 

21

6

-

238

-

1

Assam

2916

-

14

-

4

67

-

3000

1

5

Meghalaya

200

-

25

-

2

1

-

230

@

1

Manipur

386

-

8

-

-

-

-

394

-

-

Mizoram

30

-

21

-

-

-

-

51

-

@

Nagaland

264

1

108

-

17

1

-

391

1

10

Sikkim

22

-

57

4

2

9

1

93

-

-

Tripura

621

-

2

-

-

2

-

625

@

1

Note: @ 500 tonnes and less.

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture

 

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FISHERY:

 

There is a great potential in the NER in the fishery sector. Due to various reasons currently there is low fish production in the NER. At present the NER imports around 90,000 tonnes of fish from outside the region.

 

Fish Production in NER 2006-2007 (Provisional):

(In 000' Tonnes)

State

Marine

Inland

Total

Arunachal Pradesh

0.00

2.77

2.77

Assam

0.00

181.48

181.48

Manipur

0.00

18.61

18.61

Meghalaya

0.00

5.49

5.49

Mizoram

0.00

3.76

3.76

Nagaland

0.00

5.80

5.80

Sikkim

0.00

0.15

0.15

Tripura

0.00

28.63

28.63

Source: Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi

 

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INDUSTRY:

 

Industrially, the NER continues to be the most backward region in the country, and the states in the region hardly have any industrial base, except perhaps Assam, because of its traditional tea, oil and wood based industries. To some extent Meghalaya has made some headway in setting up of small and medium industries. There are a number of factors contributing to the lack of industrial growth in the region like poor infrastructure, inadequate supply of electricity, violence and extortion etc.

 

Annual Survey of Industries: Employment of Value added-Statewise: Factory Sector 2004-2005:

 

State

Total Persons Employed

Net Value added by Factory Sector

Nos.

% to Total

Rs. Mn.

% to Total

Rank

Arunachal Pradesh

-

-

-

-

-

Assam

119548

1.41

37208

1.36

15

Manipur

1835

0.02

58

0.00

31

Meghalaya

3037

0.04

921

0.03

28

Mizoram

-

-

-

-

-

Nagaland

2821

0.03

200

0.01

29

Sikkim

-

-

-

-

-

Tripura

15329

0.18

2312

0.08

27

Source: Statistical Pocket Book India 2008

 

Khadi and Village Industry (KVI):

 

For providing employment opportunities in rural areas and thereby strengthening the rural economy, KVI plays an important role. In order to have better implementation and monitoring of KVI programmes in NER, a zonal office of KVIC has also been set up in Guwahati.

 

Performance Under Khadi & Village Industries in North-Eastern Region, 2003-04:

 

State

Production

Sales

Employment (nos. in lakhs)

Earnings

Arunachal Pradesh

468.54

583.21

0.01

185.42

Assam

8017.93

9981.51

1.21

3446.50

Manipur

6029.24

6069.88

0.62

2690.18

Meghalaya

3202.03

3297.21

0.26

1998.65

Mizoram

4057.80

4218.02

0.25

1661.08

Nagaland

4773.70

5200.28

0.30

3155.35

Sikkim

441.18

532.45

0.07

134.85

Tripura

3603.89

4255.19

0.30

1252.43

Source : Economic Survey Manipur 2007-08

 

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TEA INDUSTRY:

 

The tea industry of NER is the world's largest tea growing region having 16 % shares, and is the largest producer and exporter of tea in India (share 55%)

 

State-wise Production of Tea in N.E. Region, 2006-07:

(Figures in Thousand kgs.)

States

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Assam

434759

435649

487487

502041

479925

Tripura

8577

7168

7515

7128

-

Manipur

119

110

108

110

-

Sikkim

107

150

157

167

13329

Arunachal Pradesh

1745

2219

2624

3748

-

Nagaland

195

190

190

191

-

Meghalaya

81

99

99

139

-

Mizoram

78

72

73

75

-

All India

878129

892965

945974

981805

944678

Source: Tea Board, Guwahati.

 

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EDUCATION:

 

Access to educational institutions promoting skill development is a prerequisite for providing trained man power. As per 1991 census literacy rate of NER was 58.09% (all India 52.2%), while in 2001 it was 68.5% (all India 64.8%). Mizoram has the second highest literacy rate in India. The following table gives the number of educational Institutions in the NER.

 

Prim + UP

Sec + HS

Arts/Sc.  Colleges

Engg.

Medical

Universities

Polytechnics

ITIs

IIT

56677

7716

497

6

6

13

18

49

1

Source: Draft Report of the Task force on Development Initiatives for the NER, Sept. 2005.

 

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BANKING:

 

The number of branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks in NER totaled at 2076 as on March 31, 2007. The figure was 2027 as on March 31st, 2006.

 

Number of Scheduled Commercial Banks and their Offices, Deposits & Credits of Scheduled Commercial Banks of North Eastern Region upto 31st March. 2007:

 

Year

No. of SCBs / Brunches

Deposit (Rs. in Crores)

Credit (Rs. in Crores)

2003

1915

21606

5692

2004

1920

24768

7315

2005

1952

28958

10010

2006

2027

34334

13585

2007

2076

41880

17162

Source: RBI, Statistical Tables Relating to Banks in India, 2006-2007

  

Present Position of Banking in the North East (Scheduled Commercial Banks) as on March 31st 2007:

 

States

No. of  Banks

Deposit (Rs. in Crores)

Credit (Rs. in Crores)

Credit-Deposit Ratio (%)

Deposit

Credit

Arunachal Pradesh

72

1813

486

25.07

26.81

Assam

1314

25757

11153

41.97

43.30

Manipur

77

1440

769

50.66

53.40

Meghalaya

192

3876

1389

39.36

35.84

Mizoram

86

1208

651

51.52

53.89

Nagaland

79

2249

650

22.32

28.90

Sikkim

62

1543

807

45.41

52.30

Tripura

194

3994

1357

31.63

33.98

NE Region

2076

41880

17162

39.57

40.98

Source: Statistical Tables Relating to Banks in India, 2006-2007, RBI.

 

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POWER SECTOR:

 

The total installed capacity for power generation in the NER, as on 31st August 2006, is placed at 2404.2 MW. The power generation capacity includes the three sectors viz. the state sector, central sector and private generation. The break-up is given below:

 

Installed Capacity as on 31-08-2006 (Figures in MW):

 

Sector

Hydro

Thermal

Nuclear

Wind/ RES

Total

Coal

Gas

Diesel

Total

Northern

11611.8

17592.5

3213.2

15.0

20820.7

1180.0

694.6

34307.1

Western

6921.3

21441.5

5820.8

17.5

27279.8

1840.0

1098.8

37139.9

Southern

10982.8

15962.5

3586.3

939.3

20488.1

880.0

4233.5

36584.4

Eastern

2496.5

13662.3

190.0

17.2

13869.5

0.0

111.7

16477.7

N. Eastern

1113.1

330.0

771.5

142.7

1244.2

0.0

46.9

2404.2

Islands

5.2

0.0

0.0

70.0

70.0

0.0

5.4

80.7

 

 

Capacity Addition During 10th Plan (As Planning Commission) (In MW):

 

Sector

Hydro

Thermal

Nuclear

Wind

Total

Coal

Gas

Diesel

Total

Northern

7274

4605

441.1

0

5046.1

0

0

12320.1

Western

3752

4553

1550.6

500

6603.6

1080

0

11435.6

Southern

1158.2

3820

2070

108

5998

220

0

7376.2

Eastern

1860

7075

0

0

7075

220

0

7376.2

N. Eastern

349

0

580

88.9

668.9

0

0

1017.9

Island

0

0

0

25

25

0

0

25

 

During the past six years or so, the capacity additions made in the power sector in the NER aggregated to 999 MW of which the contribution of the State sector is 148.5 MW (16.30 percent and the Central sector was 760.5 MW (83.60 Percent)

 

 

Rural Electrification:

 

Cumulatively, 29605 villages have been electrified out of a total of 40261 inhabited villages (as per 2001 census) in the NER up to 31.3.05. The table shows rural electrification in NER.

 

Total inhabited villages (as per 2001 census)

Villages electrified    (as on 31-03 –05)(%)

No. of rural households (census 2001)

Households having electricity (2001 census) (%)

40261

29605 (73.32%)

5986805

1452655 (24.26)

Source: Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1863, dated 09.03.2006.

 

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