Chapter - III
Regional Imbalances
Regional disparities & backwardness
Reduction in imbalances between various regions and between various sections of society has become the foremost objectives of planned development in the State. Due to large variations in geophysical conditions of the State such as land, soil, rainfall, climate and some other historical reasons, remarkable differences in levels of development are existing within the State.
2. The State Government has taken up large number of development programmes in planned manner through various Five Years Plans with main objective of enhancing the quality of life of people by providing the basic necessities of life as well as improvement in their social and economic well being. Despite various socio-economic development programmes, Uttar Pradesh is still suffering from regional disparities and inequality. Even six decades after independence, some of the regions of this State are still backward.
3. The State Government has made huge investments in backward regions to reduce the regional disparities but the achievements are disproportionately low. In the Eleventh Plan period Government have adopted “Inclusive growth” agenda and gave special emphasis to the schemes/ programmes meant for reducing regional disparities and backwardness especially through the mechanism of decentralized planning. The same policy has also been included in the Twelfth Plan.
4. The State is divided into four economic regions viz. Western, Eastern, Central and Bundelkhand with more or less similar conditions and easily distinguishable from each other. Out of these regions, Eastern and Bundelkhand are chronically backward in almost every critical area. There are several reasons for this backwardness, but the most significant among them are deficiency in some natural resources or exposure to natural calamities, both of these are largely beyond human control and have been great barriers to their growth and development. The comparative status of development of various regions of the State in different development indicators has given in the Annexure-I.
5. As per census 2011, the population of the State is 1998.12 lakhs. Its share in the total population of the country is 16.51 percent where as in terms of area, its share is only 7.33 percent. Regional analysis indicates that 39.98 percent of the total population of State resides in Eastern region followed by Western (37.17 percent), Central (18.00 percent) and Bundelkhand region (4.85 percent). In terms of geographical area, the corresponding share of these regions is 35.63, 33.13, 19.03 and 12.21 percent respectively.
6. It is obvious from Census data 2011 that the population of Uttar Pradesh has increased by more than 3.36 crores during the decade 2001-2011, but the decadal growth rate in population has declined from 25.85 percent in 1991-2001 to 20.23 percent in 2001-2011. During the decade (2001-2011), the Western region of the State has highest population growth (21.37 percent) followed by Eastern region (19.93percent) and Central region (19.28percent) against the State average of 20.23 percent. The Bundelkhand region registered somewhat lowest population growth (17.60 percent) during this period. It is evident from the following Table that as compared to (1991-2001) period growth rate of population in all the regions in the State have declined during the decade (2001-2011).
Region wise Decadal Growth rate in population
Regions / 1991-2001 / 2001-20111. / Western / 26.38 / 21.37
2. / Central / 26.37 / 19.28
3. / Bundelkhand / 22.34 / 17.60
4. / Eastern / 25.58 / 19.93
5. / U.P. / 25.85 / 20.23
India / 21.53 / 17.64
7. The increasing size of population affects the growth in every sector of an economy. Every development programme is badly affected by massive increase in population. The increase in population in any region is not always in proportion to the increase in infrastructure. As per Census data 2011, the density of population is as high as 931 persons per sq. km. in Eastern region followed by 930 in Western and 785 in Central region. It is lowest in Bundelkhand region (329) while for the State it is 829.
8. Urbanization is an important indicator which plays a crucial role in the process of economic development. There is considerable unevenness in degree of urbanization across the regions and districts in the State. The Census data 2011 reveals that the Western region is most urbanized region of the State with an urbanization of 31.38 percent followed by Central (25.73 percent) and Bundelkhand region (22.67 percent). Urbanization is extremely low (12.19 percent) in the Eastern region of the State.
9. The size of land holding is an important factor which affects the growth of agriculture. The percentage of holdings of less than 1.0 hectare in the state is highest in Eastern region (84.95 percent) and lowest in Bundelkhand (54.55 percent). This shows that majority of the farmers in Eastern region come under the category of marginal farmers.
10. Majority of people in the State depends on agriculture. Census data 2011 indicates that 56.74 percent of main workers are engaged in agriculture sector in the State. Regional analysis reveals that the percentage of main worker engaged in agriculture to total main workers is highest in Bundelkhand region (69.44 percent) followed by Central region (59.51 percent) and Eastern (59.42 percent). The Western region is more diversified with 51.28 percent of workers being engaged in agriculture sector.
11. Land is the most important factor which affects productivity of crops. Quality of land is not even in all the regions in the State. The Bundelkhand region has larger average size of holdings in comparison to other regions, but the total food grains productivity in the region is lowest (16.96 qt. / ha.) among all the regions during 2011-12.The rocky terrain of the region reduces the moisture retaining capacity of the land and make it unsuitable for intensive cultivation. On the other hand due to application of new agricultural technology and proper irrigation facilities, the Western region having productivity of 30.07 qt. / ha. during the same period is the most developed region in the State in this aspect.
12. The productivity of crops depends on fertilizer also. It is a very important input for crop production. As per data 2011-12, the total fertilizer distribution per hectare gross cropped area was highest in Western region (184.22 kg) followed by Central region (174.28 kg). It was lowest in Bundelkhand region (72.55 kg.).
13. Irrigation is also a deciding factor for the growth of agriculture production. The growth of agriculture production can not be achieved without sustained irrigation facilities. The irrigation facilities in Bundelkhand region are inadequate because of very difficult terrain and rocky strata. Data of the year 2011-12 indicates that the percentage of net irrigated area to net area sown is lowest in Bundelkhand region (58.26) and highest in Western region (95.00) followed by Central (85.18) and Eastern region (78.06) against the State average figure of (83.07).
14. The economy of State is dominated by agricultural activities. As per data of the year 2010-11, the gross value of agricultural output per hectare gross cropped area at current prices was highest in Western region (Rs.68199.68) followed by Central region (Rs.56103.89) and Eastern region (Rs.45113.50). It was lowest in Bundelkhand region (Rs.36627.21).
15. The role of Credit-deposit ratio is very crucial in overall development of the State. The higher C D ratio provides improved credit facilities for agriculture development and financial support to small and medium entrepreneurs. As per data of the year 2012-13, the Western region having credit–deposit ratio (54.19 percent) is at highest position followed by Bundelkhand region (52.08) and Central region (46.17). The Eastern region having credit–deposit ratio (25.88 percent) is at lowest position.
16. Industry is the life blood of an economy. Industrial development in the State is not uniform. As per data of the year 2009-10, the number of total registered factories per lakh of population was highest (9.88) in Western region followed by Central region (5.09) and Eastern region (1.53). It was lowest (1.37) in Bundelkhand region. The same pattern exists in employment generation too. In this case, the number of persons engaged in registered factories per lakh of population during 2009-10 was highest in Western region (777.19) and lowest in Bundelkhand region (81.35). For Central and Eastern region this figure is 335.62 and 92.96 persons respectively. This indicates that Bundelkhand region is relatively most backward in respect of industrial development.
17. Transport is yet another important sector in economic infrastructure. This sector includes roads, road transport, railways and aviation. Roads are the lifeline for economic and social development of an area and also a very critical requirement for economic growth of a region. Therefore, development of a good road infrastructure is crucial in removing regional disparities. During the year 2011-12, the length of pucca road under P.W.D. per lakh of population was highest in Bundelkhand region (130.59 Km.) as compared to other three regions. On the other hand, if the length of pucca road under P.W.D. per thousands sq.km. of area is considered, the Eastern region occupies the top position with a figure of 966.22 Km. while Bundelkhand region (433.41) is placed at the bottom.
18. Power is the most crucial sector in economic infrastructure. The health of this sector and its contribution to economic and social development of a State can be assessed easily by per capita power consumption of electricity in the State. The per capita power consumption in the State (262.10 kwh) is very lower than all India per capita power consumption (884 kwh). Data of the year 2012-13 reveals that per capita power consumption is highest (375.54 kwh) in Western region and lowest (161.69 kwh) in the Eastern region. The percentage of electrified villages to total inhabited villages is highest in Bundelkhand region (95.62) followed by Central region (95.55). It is lowest in Eastern region (84.10).
19. Education and health plays an important role in over all human development of the State. After the launch of Sarv Siksha Abhiyan significant achievements have been made in education sector but still regional disparities are prevailing among the regions. The Census data 2011 indicates that Bundelkhand region has highest literacy rate (69.26 percent) followed by Central region (68.31 percent). The literacy rate of Western region and Eastern region is almost similar. In terms of female literacy, the Central region has highest female literacy rate (59.33 percent) against the State average (57.18 percent). It is lowest in Eastern region (56.23 percent). It is remarkable to note that the gender gap in literacy rate in the State is continuously decreasing. It has decreased from 26.60 percent in 2001 to 20.10 percent in 2011.The region wise gender gap in literacy rates are given in the following Table. It is evident from the Gender gap figure that Central region is most favorable towards women empowerment.
Region wise Gender Gap in Literacy rate
Regions / 2001 / 2011 / Decrease in percentage points during(2001-2011)
1. / Western / 24.87 / 19.34 / 5.53
2. / Central / 22.54 / 16.99 / 5.55
3. / Bundelkhand / 30.02 / 22.81 / 7.21
4. / Eastern / 29.47 / 21.88 / 7.59
U.P. / 26.60 / 20.10 / 6.50
20. Besides above, the State has also made progress in certain other parameters of education sector. The drop-out rate for junior basic schools (class I to V) in the year 2009-10 was 29.31 which improved up to 17.17 in 2012-13. The region wise analysis indicates that drop out rate in the year 2012-13 was highest in Eastern region (20.28) followed by Western region (16.85) and Central region (11.95). This rate is lowest in Bundelkhand region (11.57).
21. Significant inter-regional disparities are also existing in the numbers of Junior basic, senior basic and higher secondary schools. Data of the year 2012-13 reveals that the number of junior basic schools per lakh of population is highest (98.03) in Bundelkhand region followed by 86.00 in Western region, 81.63 in Central region and 75.75 in Eastern region. Similarly, the number of senior basic schools per lakh of population is highest (49.45) in Bundelkhand region followed by 37.33 in Western and 36.51 in Eastern region. Central region is at lowest position (35.03) in this respect.
22. Under social services, health facilities are very important for social development of the State. In health infrastructure, the number of Allopathic hospitals/dispensaries (including PHC) per lakh of population is highest (3.18) in Bundelkhand region followed by Eastern region (2.27), Western region (1.99) and Central region (1.91) during the year 2012-13. Similarly when the number of beds in Allopathic hospitals/dispensaries (including PHC) per lakh of population is considered, the Bundelkhand region is at highest position (33.93) with a State figure of 27.63.The Western region (25.21) is at lowest position in this respect.
23. Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio are very important health indicators. As per Sample Registration Bulletin (September, 2013) the infant mortality rate of the State for the year 2012 is at the level of 53 against all India average of 42.The inter -district data of Annual Health Survey, 2010-11 reveals that in Uttar Pradesh, this rate is highest in Shrawasti (103), followed by Faizabad (98), Badaun (91), Pratapgarh (88) and Shahjahanpur (87). Infant mortality rate is lowest in Kanpur Nagar (36) followed by Jhansi (42) and Lucknow (45).
24. Similarly, As per Annual Health Survey 2010-11, The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of the State is 345. This ratio is highest (451) in Faizabad division comprising of the districts of Barabanki, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar and Sultanpur. In Barelly (437), Allahabad (442) and Devipatan (434) divisions its value is almost nearer to that of Faizabad division. MMR is lowest in Kanpur (267), Meerut (255) and Jhansi (241) divisions.
25. Net Domestic Product is a most commonly used economic indicator which assess the economic well being of the population. The region and district wise total and per capita Net Domestic Product in the State at current and constant prices is given in Annexure-II. The region wise picture as emerged from Annexure-II is shown in the following table.
Net Domestic Product At Current & Constant Prices, 2011-12