South leads in development

Southern states have taken a lead in developmental growth compared with those in north, Northeast, east and west India, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

The analysis carried out by the chamber reveals that the southern states' growth went up 6 per cent in the 1990s, against 5 per cent in the 1980s. The impact of this high growth rate has been visible in sectors such as agriculture, industry and services.

"The western and eastern regions could not do well during the period because of poor performance in agriculture. In the northern region, the growth shrunk during the period to roughly 3-4 per cent. Here, the exception were Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir," an Assocham release today said.

The agriculture sector remained the worst affected in north India during the period, the report said, adding that the industrial growth of these states was equally affected, except in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

The services sector too did not perform well in the northern region during the period. In Chandigarh and Delhi, however, the services sector performed well.

Union territories contributed a little less than 30 per cent to the country's aggregate domestic product in the last two decades.

However, the southern states' contribution to country's aggregate domestic produce increased from 22 per cent in the 1980's to 26 per cent in 2000.

Interestingly, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh remained major contributors in terms of investment in their respective state government enterprises.

Uttar Pradesh has pumped in around Rs 17,500 crore in its public enterprises till 2000. Punjab has poured in Rs 12,400 crore in its undertakings, while Rajasthan contributed Rs 11,600 crore.