Arunachal
Pradesh - Investment and Industrial Policies
Industrial Policy
of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunchal Pradesh is the largest
state in terms of geographical area, among North Eastern States, having an area
of 83743 Sq.Km., with a population of 8.65 lacs. Industrially it is still one
of the most backward state in India, though it has successfully launched various
socio-economic development programmes. These programmes have resulted in a new
awareness in the masses and the literacy rate has also started rising and as per
1991 Census it stands at 32.8. The people of the state, therefore, have started
nursing aspirations to come at par with their counterparts elsewhere in the country
so far as overall economic development is concerned. Therefore, the need for a
well doctrined Industrial Policy is felt all the more necessary at this present
juncture of socio-economic transaction of the state.
The
Industrial Policy Resolution presented in subsequent paragraphs has been prepared
keeping in view the following factors, peculiar to the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Rich resource endowment so far as
forest, minerals and other natural resources are concerned.
Extremely difficult terrain of the state resulting in glaring
transport and communication bottlenecks.
Easy
availability of hydro power in the medium term as the state in endowed with vast
potential for hydropower for exploitation of which one large project is already
under progress.
Endless
scope for agrobased industries specially in the plantation sector.
Special
place of the state in the overall ecosystem of the North Eastern Region.
Arunachal Pradesh is slowly developing its economy with the
objective of improving the quality of life of its people. The task ahead are up
hill, the resources available are plenty but the ways and means to achieve the
objective through gainful utilization of the resources are not well defined.
Technology has been relegated to the back resulting in stagnation
of growth. However, the state has gained much over the years, it is now necessary
to consolidate the gains in order to make it sustainable and add new dimension
during the comong years, so as to increase household income generation.
Keeping all these factors in mind and the the need for achieving
higher economic growth and creating job opportunities for the rural unemployed
through Agriculture and allied sector, it is necessary for the state to have a
well defined policy. The policy should govern the entire gamut of Agriculture
scenario of the sate. Towards that goal, the new State Policy onn Agriculture
has to deal with the multifaceted problems and devise ways & means to redress
them.
The major constraints are low level of productivity, capital inadequacy,
lack of infrastructural support, unfavourable terrain, high cost of production
along with demand side constraints. The non availability of basic preservation,
storage and processing facilities, low value addition and unfavourable price of
Agricultural commodities are severely affecting as a whole which directly encourages
migration from rural areas to urban centers.