17

CHAPTER – 2

SOCIO- ECONOMIC FABRIC OF RAJASTHAN

STATE

2.1 FORMATION OF RAJASTHAN

2.2 LOCATION

2.3 PHYSICAL OR NATURAL DIVISION OF RAJASTHAN

I. Western sandy plains

II. Aravalli Range And Hilly Region

III. Eastern Pains

IV. South-eastern Rajasthan Pathar (Hadoti or Harauti Plateau)

2.4 POSITION OF RAJASTHAN IN INDIAN ECONOMY

I. Position of Rajasthan in Relation to Population

II. Sex Ratio

III. Density of Population

IV. Literacy Rate

2.5 POSITION OF RAJASTHAN IN RELATION TO AREA

2.6 POSITION OF RAJASTHAN IN RELATION TO

AGRICULTURE

I. Pattern of Land Utilisation

II. Average Size of Operation Holdings

III. Irrigation, Use of Fertilizers, etc.

IV. Production of Main Crops

2.7 INDUSTRIAL POSITION

18

I. Share in Gross Domestic Products ie (GDP)

II. Position of Factory Sector

2.8 SOCIO-ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE

I. Electricity

II. Roads

III. Railways

IV. Education

V. Per Capital Income

2.9 MAIN FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SLOW

ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF RAJASTHAN

I. Weak Economic base

II. Adverse Geographical and Physical Conditions

III. High Growth Rate of Population

IV. Problems Related with Groundwater in the State

V. Social Backwardness

VI. Lack of Financial resources.

VII. Poor Implementation of Plans

2.10 SUMMING UP

19

2.1 FORMATION OF RAJASTHAN

The present state of Rajasthan was formed after a long process of

integration in seven stages which began on March 18, 1948 and

ended on November 1,1956. In the beginning, Matsya Union was

formed by joining together State like Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur

and Karauli. Former Rajasthan was formed on March 25, 1948 by

integrating nine States, viz., Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur,

Jhalawar, Kishangarh, Kota, Pratapgarh, Shahpura and Tonk. On

April 18, 1948, United State of Rajasthan was formed by

including Udaipur State in it. On March 30, 1949 the States of

Bikaner, Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur joined it. Matsya was

merged with it on May 15, 1949. In the sixth stage on February 7,

1950, Sirohi State was fully merged with it, and finally in the

seventh stage on November 1,1956, after coming into force of the

State Reorganisation Act, Ajmer-Merwara State, Sunel Tappa

Village of MP were merged with it and Sironj region of Jhalawar

district was transferred to MP. In this way the process of the

formation of Rajasthan was completed in nine years (1948-56) in

seven stages.

Thus, the state of Rajasthan, before its formation consisted

of 19 princely states, the British administered territory of Ajmer-

Merwara and three chiefships (Kushalgarh, Lava and Neemrana).

Before integration it was called Rajputana; after integration it

20

came to be known as Rajasthan. The location of 33 districts is

shown in the map on the next page.

2.2 LOCATION

Rajasthan is situated in the north-western part of India. It lies

between 2303, and 30

012‘ north latitudes and 69

030‘, and 78

017‘,

east longitudes. North Arabia, part of Egypt and Liberia, northern

Sahara and part of Mexico are also located between these

latitudes, but the climatic conditions of Rajasthan are not so

severe as are found in these countries. The southern part of

Rajasthan is about 225 km from the Gulf of Kutch and about 400

km from the Arabian Sea.

Rajasthan is bounded by Pakistan in the west and north-

west; by the state of Punjab in the north; by Haryana in the north-

east by Uttar Pradesh in the east, by Madhya Pradesh in the

south-east and Gujarat in the south-west. As mentioned in the

previous chapter, it is the largest state now in terms of area in

India. The international border with Pakistan is to the extent of

1,040 kilometres. For security and other reasons, the government

has to incur a lot of expenditure on border area development.

From east to west it is about 869 km and from north to south it is

about 826 km long. Due to vast area in the state, it possesses

various types of physical features.

2.3 PHYSICAL OR NATURAL DIVISIONS OF

RAJASTHAN

21

The most notable feature of Rajasthan is the aravalli range of

hills. This is one of the oldest mountain system of the world. It

intersects the state diagonally from one end to the other , and cuts

it into two parts. It runs from north-east to south-west. The area

lying to the west of the Aravallis is known as Western Sandy

Plains and to its east lies the northern part of the Central

Highlands. These two major divisions have a variety of

physiographic and relief features. On the basis of the existing

relief features, the state can be divided into the following physical

or natural divisions:

1. Western Sandy Plains

(a) Sandy –Arid plains ( Marusthali)

(b) Semi-Arid Transitional Plains ( Rajasthan Bagar)

(i) Luni basin (Godwar Tract)

(ii) Plain of Interior Drainage (Shekhawati Tract )

(iii) Ghaggar Plain

2. Aravalli Range and Hilly Region

(a) Aravalli Range and Bhorat Plateau

(b) North –Eastern Hilly Region

3. Eastern Plains

(a) Banas Basin

(b) Chappan Plains

4. South – Eastern Rajasthan Pathar ( Hadoti or Harauti Plateau )

(a) Vindhyan Scarpland

(b) Deccan Lava Plateau.

22

2.4 POSITION OF RAJASTHAN IN INDIAN ECONOMY

Earlier, Rajasthan Was regarded as ―a backward region in a

backward economy‖ of india. Firstly, Indian economy was

regarded as an underdeveloped and Backward economy, and

secondly, Rajasthan economy was also like a Backward region in

it. But, more recently, it would be quite appropriate to designate

Rajasthan as a developing region in the developing economy of

India. Both the national economy and the regional economy are

on development path in the plan period. Much has been achieved.

But much more remain to be achieved. Rajasthan is one of the 17

non-special category state in india. Therefore, under central plan-

assistances, its share was 30 per cent grant and 70 per cent loan;

while 11 Special category states got 10 per cent grant and 10 per

cent loan as their respective shares under the central plan-

assistance. The state has been trying hard to be included in the

group of special –category states but so far 40 success has been

achieved in this regard. However, for Rajasthan it should be

remembered that, it has been included in this regard. However,

for Rajathan it should be remembered that , it has been included

in the category of ‗BIMARU‘ states, along with Bihar, MP and

UP, due to some weak demographic factors like high growth rates

of population, high birth rates, high infant mortality rates, low

literacy rates, particularly for femals, low marriage age for girls,

etc., as per the viewpoint of the famous demographer, Dr. Ashish

Bose. The stae is trying hard to come out of the category of

23

‗BIMARU‘ states. Improvements have taken place in some of the

aforesaid demographic indicators as we shall see in the relevant

chapters, but more sustained efforts are needed in this direction to

achieve the desired goal. In this chapter we would analyses from

the point of view of population, area, agriculture, industry,

infrastructure etc. We would compare the relative position of

Rajasthan with some states also. The position of Rajasthan with

some states also.

Rajasthan state, in its present form, come into existence as a

conglomeration of 19 princely states and 3 chiefships which

varied in size, administrative efficiency and socio-economic

development at the time of the formation of the state. At present

Rajasthan in divided into 7 Divisions, 33 districts which are

further divided into 244 tehsils, 184 municipalities (total no. of

ULBs, including 5 Nagar Nigams), 249 Panchayat1 Samities,

9,175 village panchayats and 41,353 revenue villages. Pratapgarh

district was the latest addition in the category of districts in the

state.

With as are of 3.42 lakh sq. kilometes, Rajasthan is now the

largest state in the country, after the bifurcation of Chattisgarh

from the state of Madhya Pradesh. As per the census of 2011, the

population of the state was 6.86 crore. It has a long international

frontier with Pakistan of 1040 kms. (Annual Plan, Rajasthan,

2011-12, p.1.1), and is adjacent to the staes of Punjab, Haryana,

1 SOME FACTS ABOUT Rajasthan august 2011 PPT-8

24

UP, MP and Gujarat. Aravalli Hill ranges run from south-west to

north-east through the heart of the state. To the west and the

north –west of these hills, there is a region, which comprises 11

districts. It covers about 61 per cent of the total area of the state,

and is widely known as the Great Indian Desert-the Thar. The

state accounts for 2.08 lakh sq. kilometers out of the total 2.40

lakh sq. kms. of hot Deseret area in the country.

Item Year Rajasthan India Rajasthan’s

Share in india or other

comments

1. Population 2011 6.86 crore 121.02 5.67%

2. Area 2001 3.42 lakh sq. km

( 342239 sq. km.

32.87 lakh sq. km

( 3287263 sq. km.)

10.4% ( first place in

india)

3. Decadel growth

rate of

population

2001-

2011

21.44% 17.64% More than india ( about

3.80 percentage points )

4. Total Literacy

rate (aged 7

years and

above )

2011 67.06% 74.04 Less than india

( About 7% points)

5. Density (

Population per

sq. km

2011 201 382 Less than 181 points as

campared to india

6. Proportion of

SC population

2001 17.2% 16.2% Slightly more than in

India

7. Proportion of

ST population

2001 12.6% 8.2% Much more than india

8. Area under

food grains

2009-10

final)

13.23( Million

hectares

121.3 Million

Hectares)

10.9%

9. No. of 2007-08 2.79 lakh 82 lakh 3.4%

25

A few major indicators of Rajasthan economy vis-à-vis

Indian economy are given below. Sector – wise details would

follow later:-

Source : Statistical Outline of India 2009-10 (Tata Services Ltd.), December 2010, Economic

Survey 2010-11 (GOI), and Economic Review 2010-11 (GOR).

employment in

reporting

factories

10. Perhectare

Consumption of

NPK fertilser s

(in kg)

2008-09 48.85 128.80 38% of Indian level

11. Average size of

holdings

2005-06 3.38 (hectares) 1.25( hectares) About 2.75 times that of

india

12. Poverty ratio (

No. of poor as a

ratio of

population )

2004-05 (

mixed

recall

period

( MRP)

method

34.4% ( New

estimate of

Tendulkar

committee)

37.2% Less than the national

averate

13. Per capita

consumption of

electricity (

utilized and

non – utilized )

2008-09 747.07 (kwh) 733.54 (kwh) Alittle more than the

national average

14. Road length

(Per 100sq. km.

area )

2010-11 55.23 (km) 110.17(km) About half of national

average

15. Electrification

of villages

31 mar

2007

67.1% 81.3% Less than the national

average

16. Per capita

income (at

2004-05 prices )

2009-10 23653 33731 About 70% of national

average

26

The aforesaid table shown that the annual growth rate of

population is higher in Rajasthan as compared to India as a

whole. The population of SC and ST population is also higher in

Rajasthan as compared to the national average. The state is

lagging far behind in industrial development and infrastructural

development. But the average size of the operational holding in

the state is higher than the national average. The state has to

march forward at a faster speed on the path of development in

years to come.

Now, we shall analyse the position of Rajasthan in Indian

economy in relation to different sectors of the economy is

sufficient details.

2.4 POSITION OF RAJASTHAN IN INDIAN ECONOMY

i. Position of Rajasthan in relation to population

As mentioned earlier, population of Rajasthan was 6.86

crore in 2011, which was 5.67 per cent of the total

population of India in that year. This ratio was 5.5 per cent

in 2001. Thus, there has been a slight increase in the share

of Rajasthan in the total population of India. During 2001-

2011, the population of india increased by 17.64 per cent,

while that of Rajasthan by 21.44 per cent. Thus, the

growth rate in th population of Rajasthan dropped by

about 7 percentage points during 2001-2011, as compared

to the period 1991-2001. But even then during 1991-2001,

27

population increased at a faster rate in Rajasthan as

compared to India , which is a cause of real worry.

Uttar Pradesh had 16.49 per cent share in th total

population of India in 2011 and occupied first rank in this

regard. Rajasthan with a share of 5.67 per cent in the total

population of India occupied eighth place in the

descending order of percentage share in the total

population of India.

ii. Sex Ratio

Sex ratio indicates the number of females per 1,000

males . It was 926 in 2011 for Rajasthan. In 2001 it was

921. Thus, there has been an increase in the sex ratio by

5 points in 2011 as campared to 2001. Sex ratio was 940

in Inida in 2011, which was 14 points higher than

Rajasthan.

Sex ratio for some other states in 2011 was as follows:

India

Kerala

MP

Punjab

UP

Rajasthan

940

1084

930

893

908

926

Thus, the sex ratio in Rajasthan was much lower than

that of kerala in 2011; but it was higher than Punjab and

UP. In kerala the number of females was higher than that

of males. It was 1084 in 2011.

28

iii. Density of Population

The number of people per square kilometer is called

population density. For 2011, it was as follows ( final

data ):

India

Rajasthan

UP

Kerala

Bihar

382

201

828

859

1102

Thus, the density of population is much lower in

Rajasthan as compared to india. In 2001, the density of

population in Rajasthan was 165 only. Thus, it has

increased in 2011.

iv. Literacy Rate

Those who can read and write an ordinary letter are

called literates. Now the literacy rate is calculated for

persons with age of 7 or more years.

The following table gives the literacy rate for 2011:

In percentage

All Persons Male Female

Rajasthan

India

Kerala

Bihar

67.06

74.04

93.91

63.82

80.51

82.14

96.02

73.39

52.66

65.46

91.98

53.33

In female literacy rate, Rajasthan occupies a lower place

even in 2011 it was 52.66 per cent in Rajasthan. The total literacy

29

rate in Rajasthan 67.06 per cent which lower than 74.04 per cent

for India.

It must be noted that the female literacy rate in rural areas

of some districts of Rajasthan was really very dismal and

disappointing. For example in Banswara district, rural female

literacy rate was 24.43 per cent only, which was the minimum in

2001. This is a shocking state of affairs and presents a

challenging situation for the future. More serious and sustained

attention needs to be given to increase rural female literacy rate in

Rajasthan in general, and for the most backward districts in

particular.

2.5 Position of Rajasthan in Relation to Area

As stated earlier, at present Rajasthan is the largest state in Inida

from the point of view of area. The area of Rajasthan was about

3.42 lakh square kilometers, which was about 10.41 per cent of

the total area of all the state.

The share of some other states and their rank in India are

shown in the following table:2

State % Share in total

Area of All States

Rank in the

State of India

Maharashtra

Andhra Pradesh

Gujarat

Haryana

Uttar Pradesh

9.36

8.37

5.96

1.34

7.33

3

4

7

16

5

2 Economic Review 2010-11, State wise important Economic Indicators (Table 28)

30

Thus with 10.4 per cent share in area, Rajasthan occupied first

place in terms of area in India. Gujarat had about 6 per cent area

and uttar Pradesh had about 7.3 per cent. Due to higher share in

area, Rajasthan has been pleading for including area as a criterion

to be included for the devolution of transfers of tax – revenues

from the centre to the state. The thirteenth finance commission

(2010-15) has given weightage of 10 per cent to area. There is

another important feature of the area in Rajasthan. As 61 per cent

area is spread over 11 desert districts of the state with 40 per cent

population in them, the state has to face vagaries of nature in

terms of droughts and famines quite frequently. Relief works

have to be organized over large areas under these conditions.

Expenditure on infrastructural activities is larger under such

difficult conditions of terrain etc.

Thus , the geographical area of Rajasthan has wider implications

for the economy of the state.

2.6 Position of Rajasthan in relation to Agriculture

(i) Pattern of Land Utilisation – there is a lot of difference in

the pattern of land utilization in Rajasthan and in the country as a

whole.

In 2007-08 gross cropped area ( net cropped area+ area sown

more than once)in Rajasthan was 64.8 per cent ot the total

geographical area in the state. The position of Rajasthan has been

regarded as stisfactroy from the point of view of gross cropped

are in the country. In 2002-03 gross cropped area had reached a

31

lower level of 38.57 per cent of the total geographical area in the

state. It fluctuates from year to year due to uncertain rainfall

conditions.

(ii) Average Size of Operational Holdings – In 2005-06, the

average size of operational holdings was 3.38 hectares in

Rajasthan , while it was only 1.25 hectares for the country as a

whole. Thus, the average size of operational holdings is quite

high in Rajasthan. It had second place amongst 17 sates of India.

While the first place went to Punjab, where the average size of

operational holdings was 3.95 hectares.

The Position for some other states was as follows in 2005-

06 :-

(In hectares)

Gujarat

MP

UP

West Bengal

2.20

2.02

0.80

0.79

Thus, the average size of operational holdings in UP and west

Bengal has sunk below one hectare, while that of Rajasthan is

much higher, at 3.38 hectares.

(iii) Irrigation , use of Fertillisers, etc. - In 2008-09, gross

irrigated area as a ratio of gross cropped area was 34.74 per cent

in Rajsthan, while it was about 42.9 per cent in india in 2005-06.

Thus, there is scarcity of irrigation facilities in the state.

32

Ultimately –irrigation potential in Rajasthan is 52 Lakh hectares,

while for india it is 11.35 crore hectares. Thus it is 4.5 per cent of

the country as a whole.

The per hectare consumption of fertilisers is very low in

Rajasthan. In 2008-09 it was about 48.85 kgs, while it was 128.58

kgs in India. Thus, it was about 1/3rd

of the country as a whole. It

was 221.42 kgs in Punjab, which was the highest in the country.

(iv) Production of Main Crops- Rajasthan has emerged as a

leading producer of oilseeds in recent years. The production of

nine oilseeds was very high in Rajasthan in the whole country .

The state has become a leading producer of rapeseed and mustard

in the country . In 2009-10, production was 29.12 lakh tones,

while it was 64 lakh tones in the entire country . In some other

crops, its share in national output was as follows:

Share of Rajasthan in Agricultural Production in 2008-09

Total food grains

Wheat

Oilseeds

Pulses

Cotton

7.1

9.0

18.4

12.4

3.1

Thus, the state had a greater share in the output of oilseeds and

pulses( Particularly gram) in the country. Its position in the

output of sugarcane was very low. It was rather negligible.

The production of foodgrains varies sharply from year to year.

For example, it was 123.6 lakh tones in 2009-10, which was 5.7

33

per cent of the whole country. Crop output fluctuations cause

serious problem for the economy of Rajasthan. However, the

output of oilseeds has shown a sharp rise in recent years.

2.7 industrial position of Rajasthan in the National Economy

(i) Share in gross Domestic Product and Labor force – If we

include manufacturing ( registered and unregistered),

Construction, electricity, gas and water –supply under the

industrial sector, then the share of industries in GDP in 2009-10

for Rajasthan was 29.7 per cent at 2004-05 prices; while it was

25.8 per cent for India at 2004-05 prices. During this period, for

construction alone, the share was 12 per cent for the state of

Rajasthan . Rajasthan will have to raise its share in manufacturing

from its present low level of about 13.65 per cent to a somewhat

higher level by industrializing the state at a faster rate in future.

Manufacturing includes registered as well as unregistered sectors.

Both need to be developed at a faster rate. More about it will be

discussed under industrial growth of Rajasthan.

(ii) position of the Factory –Sector- The position of the factory

– sector in 2007-08 was as follows in Rajasthan and some other

states in the national economy:

Number of

reporting

factories

Invested

capital (rs.

Crore)

Number of

Persons

engaged ( in

lakh)

Net value-

added (NVA)

by

manufacture

(Rs. Crore) Rajasthan

Gujarat

Maharashtra

6337

15107

18304

34303

209558

214767

3.70

10.45

13.55

12244

62107

110538

34

All India

Share of

Rajasthan

In all India (%)

146385

4.3

1280126

2.7

104.5

3.5

481593

2.5

Source : AS1 2007-08 CSO, March 2010.

Thus, in number of reporting factories, Rajasthan‘s share was 4.3

per cent, while in other indicators such as invested capital, it was

about 2.7 per cent, and in the number of persons engaged in them

and net value added by manufacture (Value of output – value of

input) it was about 3.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively in

2007-08.

These indicators show that in the factory sector Rajasthan is

industrially backward at present. Gujarat is industrially more

advanced than Rajasthan. In 2007-08, the number of reporting

factors was 15,107 in Gujarat while it was 6,337 only in

Rajasthan. The amount of invested capital and net value-added by

manufacture was much higher in Gujarat and Maharashtra as

compared to Rajasthan. Thus, Rajasthan is industrially lagging

behind other states so far as the factory-sector is concerned. But

Rajasthan occupies a leading position so far as the output of

handicrafts, handlooms gems & jewellery, carpets and other

cottage and household industries are concerned. The exports of

these products from the state help in earning foreign exchange for

the country. More attention should be given to them in future so

that employment income and foreign exchange earning may be

35

increased to a substantial extent from this sector. The factory

sector needs to be developed in the present decade at a rapid rate.

2.8 Social-Economic Infrastructure

(i) Electricity - At the end of March 2010, the installed

capacity for power generation in Rajasthan was 8076.51

MW, which was quite inadequate, looking to the needs of

the state. The per capita consumption of electricity was 747

kwh in Rajasthan in 2008-09 as compared to the national

average of 733.5 kwh. Among 17 states, Rajasthan

occupied 11th

rank in term of per capita consumption of

electricity. Punjab with 1553 kwh, occupied the first

position in thisrespect.

In March 2009, while Gujarat, Haryana. Maharashtra,

Punjab, Tamilnadu, etc. had achieved 100 per cent level in

electrification of villages, Rajasthan had reached a level of

above 91.6 per cent by that time.

(ii) Roads- As stated in the beginning of the chapter, by the

end of 2010-11 the road mileage was 55.23 km. per 100 sq.

km in Rajasthan. The national average was about

110.17km. Thus, the state is backward in the development

of roads at present. Rajasthan has to go a long way to

improve the position in this regard.

36

(iii) Railways- As on 31 March 2008 the railway – mileage

per 1,000 sq. km. area was 16.61 kms. for Rajasthan, which

was less than the national average. The railway milage was

higher in states like Punjab and West Bengal. This shows

the backwardness of Rajasthan in the development of

railways so far. But more recently, a lot of progress has

been made in the conversion of railway track from meter

gauge to broad gauge, which has opened up new avenues

for the economic development of the state for the future.

(iv) Education- We have shown earlier that the literacy

level in Rajasthan is very poor at present. In 2011, there

were 67.1 per cent literate persons in the state as compared

to 74.0 per cent in the entire country. The state has to

improve its literacy rate further in future.

The position of Gross Enrolment Ratio in classes I-V

and VI-VIII for Rajasthan and India is shown in the

following table for 2007-08:3

Primary (I-V)

Boys Girls

Total

Upper Primary (VI-VIII)

(11-13 years)

Boys Girls

Total

Rajasthan

All India

121.4 114.9

118.3

115.3 112.6

92.8 68.7

81.4

81.5 74.4

3 Economic Survey Survey 2010-11. GO1, P.A.- 120

37

114.0 78.1

The above table shows that the enrolment ration for

girls in Rajasthan is less as compared to India at the upper

primary level. The position with regard to the enrolment of boys

is better in Rajasthan as compared to the national level. But the

problem of dropouts is serious at the primary level and needs to

be tackled in the near future.

Moreover, the gross enrolment ratios in the State for SC and

ST people are much lower than the overall averages as shown in

the above table.

(V)Per Capital Income- Finally, we may have a look at the

per capita income or Rajasthan in relation to the per capital

income in India. At constant prices of 2004-05, the per

capita income of Rajasthan was Rs. 23,653 for 2009-10

while it was about Rs. 33,731 for the entire country (as

shown in the table, earlier). Thus, the per capita income

level in much less in Rajasthan as compared to India. But

there is ample potential for economic development in

Rajasthan, which can help in increasing the per capita real

income of the state in Future.

2.9 MAIN FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SLOW

ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF RAJASTHAN

The aforesaid discussion indicates that Rajasthan economy

has been lagging behind Indian economy in various sectors

; such as agriculture, industry, Infrastructure-both economic

38

and social, etc. We must analyse the factors which have

been responsible for this state of affairs so that the state may

bridge up its gap with the national economy in future by

adopting suitable policy measures in this regard.

1 Economic Base of Rajasthan was Very Weak at the

start of Planning in 1951

Economic position of Rajasthan was very dismal in the

initial stages of planning. In 1950-51, the installed

capacity of power was only 13 MW, gross irrigated area

as a ratio of gross cropped area was only 12 per cent,

state had electricity in 42 places only and the road

mileage was 17,399 kms only. Industrial development

was not possible due to lack of roads, water supply and

electricity generation. There was lack of social services

as well, and educational and medical facilities were

lagging far behind the national average in different parts

of the state. In 1950-51, in the age group of 6-11 years,

the percentage of school going children was 16.6 per cent

,while in the age group of 11-14 years it was 5.4 per cent

only. The number of beds in hospitals for patients was

5,720, which was quite inadequate for the purpose.

With such low economic base, it was not possible to

make up the gaps in a short period of time. However,

during the plan-period significant improvements have

39

been made in several directions, which would be

discussed as we proceed further in our study in this book.

2 Adverse Geographical and Physical Conditions

As mentioned earlier, the state has desert area in 61 per

cent of the geographical area of the state, which is

frequently visited by famines and droughts. The surface

water resources of the state constitute 1 per cent of the

total surface water resources of the entire country. The

per capita expenditure on making basic services available

to the people in backward and remote areas is quite high.

Due to lack of adequate funds, development is adversely

affected.

Monsoon is uncertain in India, but it is more so in

Rajasthan. It leads to drastic fluctuations in agricultural

output in the state, more particularly in the output of

khariff foodgrains, which causes hardship to the people

from time to time.

3 High Growth Rate of Population

The growth rate of population in Rajasthan during 1991-

2001 was 28.41 per cent and in 2001-2011 it was 21.4

per cent. These growth rates are higher than the national

averages for the respective periods. The per capita

income and per capita availability of goods and services

have been adversely affected due to this single factor.

40

There is also some correlation between high population

growth rate and social backwardness of the state.

4 Problems Related with Groundwater in the State

Due to droughts water-table have been receding

continuously in the state. In some areas, water is brackish

and unfit for human and cattle consumption, and even for

agricultural purposes. People, particularly women-folk,

have to walk a long distance to fetch potable water in

some parts of the state. Due to excess use of groundwater

in recent years, some parts of the state may face a

situation of severe water-famine in the near future.

5 Social Backwardness

In 2001, the proportion of SC people in the state was

17.2 per cent and that of ST people it was 12.6 per cent.

With other backward class people, the proportion of

socially backward people in the population is likely to

exceed 30 per cent, which poses several problems for

the planners. Massive investments are needed to remove

the social and economic backwardness of these

communities. There are organizational problems too in

implementing the programmes for the upliftment of these

people.

6 Lack of Financial Resources

Although a lot of expenditure has been incurred during

the plan-period for making improvements in various

41

sectors of the economy, particularly in sectors like

power, irrigation and social services; yet further planned

development is constrained due to financial difficulties.

The total debt burden on the state at the end of March

2011 was a sum of Rs. 98,881 crore, which is likely to

cross the level of Rs. One lakh crore by the end of March

2012, this has increased interest burden on the state. We

shall study in the chapter on State Finances that revenue

deficits and fiscal deficits were high in earlier years,

there were revenue surpluses during 2006-07 and 2007-

08. But again revenue deficits and fiscal deficits started

rising from 2008-09 onwards. The state tried to improve

its fiscal situation under Fiscal Responsibility and

Budget Management (FRBM) Act of 2005. It has to

reframe the FRBM Act, again in the light of the changing

fiscal position of the State.

7 Poor Implementation of Plans

Although the Planning Department has been preparing

five year plans and annual plans in the state, yet high

level technical and academic work was not carried out on

state planning process in the past. Moreover,

decentralized planning could not take root in the state,

and there could not be proper coordination between local

resources, local manpower and local requirements of the

people. With the setting up of New Panchyati Raj

42

Institutions after the enactment of 73rd

constitutional

Amendment ACT in the State, a new situation during

1995-96, a new situation emerged in the state for better

planning at the grass-roots level. Time has come to give

a new orientation to the entire planning process in terms

of need-based local planning in the state. Planning at the

state-level need a new face-lift in terms of plan-

formulation, plan-implementation and plan-evaluation.

The state has to tackle issues related with:

(I) Power development in the private sector;

(II) Industrial development of backward regions;

(III) Agricultural development by spreading the use of

drip-irrigation and sprinkler-irrigation, and watershed

development as well as wasteland development

programmes;

(IV) Rapid development of mineral resources, roads

and cattle-wealth; and

(V) Increasing literacy rate, particularly in rural areas

for the women-folk.

The production and productivity need to be improved in

all the sectors of the economy so that problems of poverty,

unemployment and inequality may be tackled more effectively

during the next few decades in Rajasthan. The state possesses

potential for providing full employment to its people in future.

With large external assistance, particularly from the World Bank

43

for large project in agricultural and other sectors the state can

hope to build a bright future for itself, and thereby help in

accelerating the economic growth of the entire country.

2.10 SUMMING UP

The growth rate of population in Rajasthan during 2001-

2011 was 21.44 per cent, which should be reduced to less than 25

per cent in the near future. For this couple protection rate (CPR)

should be increased from the effective level of 46.4 per cent as on

31st March 2007 (as state earlier) to a much higher level in future.

We should reduce infant mortality rate and birth rate in years to

come. The literacy rate, particularly in the case of rural females,

should be increased and mean-age at marriage for girls should be

raised from about 15-16 years to about 21 years.

The birth rate in Rajasthan was 27.2 per thousand in 2009

which should be reduced to 20 per thousand in the next few

years. This level is not beyond our reach because it has already

been achieved in Karnataka (19.8 years), AP (18.4 years), WB

(17.5 years) and Maharashtra (17.9 years), in 2008. ‗ Raj Laxmi

Bond Scheme‘ and ‗Vikalp Scheme‘ should be implemented

quite vigorously to achieve success in the field of family planning

in the state. They should be made more popular through the

NGOs, private agency participation and people‘s participation in

future. They should be run as programmes not merely to control

child-births, but also as programmes for improving the welfare,

health and happiness of the common people in Rajasthan.