Uttarakhand's per capita income up
Uttarakhand continues to make rapid progress in per capita income. For the financial year 2013-14, the state witnessed the per capita income cross the Rs 1 lakh mark.
Uttarakhand continues to make rapid progress in per capita income. For the financial year 2013-14, the state witnessed the per capita income cross the Rs 1 lakh mark.
According to the state's Economics and Statistics Department, Uttarakhand's per capita income stands at Rs 1.03 lakh, up from Rs 92,191 in the last financial year, for a total population of 10.1 million (as per the 2011 census).
The economy is driven by the tourism industry. In 2012, more than 28.4 million tourists visited 264 destinations in Uttarakhand. The sector provides direct employment to nearly 180,000 people in the state, says Assocham. Between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the state clocked a 36 per cent increase in capital expenditure. This is impressive when compared to other large states which average around 20 per cent.
Uttarakhand is also moving towards achieving 100 per cent electrification of villages. Currently, 98.32 per cent villages have been covered. "We are yet to provide electricity to 123 villages. These are located in dense forest areas," says Sumer Singh Yadav, managing director of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited.
Banks are coming to the state. By the end of 2013, the number of bank branches has gone up to 1,175, from 978 in 2011.