Inter district disparities in Orissa

The problem of regional disparities in India as well as in Orissa have been accentuated over the plan periods although balanced regional development was the major thrust during plan periods. Lopsided industrialization in urban Industrial growth centers has aggravated the spatial variations existing in different regions of the country. Mahalnobis strategy of rapid industrialization through the promotion of heavy industries, lopsided infrastructural development, the strategy of Green revolution, tax devoluation and Grants in-Aid by the Finance Commission have accentuated the dimension of regional disparities in India. In Orissa the magnitude or regional disparities can be contemplated in terms of both inter and intra regional as coastal districts are well developed vis-à-vis to that of interior and tribal dominated districts. To dispense with greater magnitude of regional disparities emanating form Green revolution strategy, seventh FYP embarked upon implementation of dry land farming or rain fed farming or water management programmes. Special development programmes such as Hill Area Development Programme, Desert Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Programme etc. will mitigate the magnitude of regional disparities.

Eighth plan to Eleventh Plan embark upon social sector cum rural development for which greater chunk of plan outlay has been earmarked for backward rural regions. Comprehensive poverty eradication programmes such as NREGA generation of employment opportunities for the vulnerable sections of the society, decentralised planning through PRIs, special Grants in Aid to economically backward states or districts and establishment of industries in backward states by Tax Holiday scheme will mitigate the cruder form of regional disparities.