Annual Plan 1982-83 Orissa (Draft)

Abstract

Orissa with a little over 4 per cent of the country’s geographical area has a share of about 4 per cent of the total population of the country. Though richly endowed with natural resources it is among the poorest of the States. the percentage of people below the poverty line is the highest in the State. According to the estimates of the Planning Commission it was 66.40 per cent as against the All India figure of 48.13 per cent in 1977-78. the economy of the State which recorded a growth rate of 2.6 per cent in the Fourth Plan and 2 per cent in the Fifth Plan could not keep pace with the rate of growth of population. the gap between the national and State per capita incomes has been widening progressively. It was Rs. 151 in 1970-71 and increased to Rs. 211 in the year 1978-79 at 1970-71 prices. According to a quick estimate, the per capita income in Orissa for 1978-79 at 1970-71 prices was Rs. 501 as against the national average of Rs. 712. the State is subjected to frequent visitations by various natural calamities like drought, flood, cyclone, etc. The worst hit in this process are the tribals, harijans and other economically backward classes who together constitute about 70 per cent of the State’s population.