North stagnating on vital parameters: Assocham

The northern states are in the grip of a crisis. In a recent study, Assocham has expressed concern at the growing disparity between the northern and southern states witnessed since the onset of reforms in 1991.

Agricultural growth in the northern states has become stagnant. Although they contribute a little over 50 per cent of India's foodgrains and over 45 per cent of milk, sugarcane and potato production, the lack of growth in agriculture has impacted industry and the service sector.

A lack of employment growth in all sectors is another area of concern. Agriculture employs 65 per cent of the population. But modern agriculture is no more employment-oriented.

These states have seen the highest population growth of 2.4 per cent, while the growth rate has fallen in other regions.

The Assocham study has lauded the efforts of the Planning Commission, which has taken this up as a serious challenge.

The Planning Commission has in the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002"�07) mentioned the rate of growth each state should achieve, so that the country as a whole may achieve a growth rate of 8 per cent, and 10 per cent after some years.

The following table shows the growth targets set for each state in the the last three plans, including the present one.