Annual Plan 2003-04 Orissa Volume-I

Abstract

The population of Orissa which was 316.60 lakh in 1991 increased to 367.07 lakh in 2001. This accounted for a decennial growth rate of 15.94 percent against 20.06 percent in the previous decade, which is lower than the corresponding growth rate of 21.34% and 23.86^ at the national level. Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes account for 16.20 and 22,21 percent respectively of the total population (1991 census) and the Scheduled area of the State is 45.00 percent of the total geographical area. The density of population which was 203 per sq. km. in 1991 has increased to 236 per sq. km. in 2001, which is lower than the All India average of 324 per sq. km. Out of the total population, 85.03 percent of the people live in rural areas and depend mostly on agriculture for their livelihood. The rest 14.97% of the people reside in urban areas. On the literacy front, the State has achieved remarkable success in realising illiteracy reduction of the order of 14.52 percent point during 1991-2001 as against All India figure of 13.17 percent point. The literacy rate has increased from 49.09 percent in 1991 to 63.61 percent in 2001 against the All India average of 65.38 percent. The male and female literacy rates have gone up to 75.95 and 50.97 percent respectively in 2001. By and large this is the positive impact of the Total Literacy Campaign launched in the State since 1990- 91.