Largest state in the north-eastern region, Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state area in the north-eastern region of India. It is also called as ‘the land of the rising sun’.
Arunachal Pradesh covers an area of almost 84,000 square kilometers and has a long international border line with Bhutan to the west, China to the north and northeast, and Myanmar to the east. In the north, it has snow-capped mountains, and in the south, it has the plains of the Brahmaputra valley.
Obtained statehood on February 20, 1987
Arunachal Pradesh was granted the status of a Union Territory on 20 January 1972. It was on 15 August 1975 that an elected Legislative Assembly was first constituted, with its first Council of Ministers taking office.
In February 1978 the first general elections for the Assembly were held. The state is divided into 16 districts. Arunachal Pradesh became a full state on February 20, 1987.
A State with a Unique Set of Traditions and Customs
The Kalika Purana and Mahabharata literature has the mention of Arunachal Pradesh. This place is believed to be the Prabhu mountains of Puranas.
Arunachal Pradesh was ruled by many powerful rulers and kingdoms, giving the state many historical monuments and archaeological remains that show its rich cultural heritage.
A State with an Abundance of Wild Flora and Fauna
Arunachal Pradesh is mainly a hilly territory with rocks, forests and streams presenting an impressive view of nature in all its splendor and abundance of wildlife. The capital city of Arunachal Pradesh is Itanagar. Itanagar is named after Ita Fort, which means “brick fort”, which was built in the 14th century.
As of the 2011 census, the population of Arunachal Pradesh was 13,82,611. The main languages spoken are Nyishi, Adi and Nepali. The state’s literacy rate stands at 65.38%. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are involved in industries such as arts and crafts, weaving, cane and bamboo, carpet weaving, woodcarving, tourism, and horticulture.
Use of natural resources for power generation and horticultural production
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, the state government has announced the construction of 2,000 km of highway per year. The state has expanded its power generation capacity by utilizing its hydroelectric potential. As of 31 August 2022, Arunachal Pradesh had a total installed power generation capacity of 772.76 MW.
Total horticultural production has reached 193,000 metric tons.
Greater Budget Allocation for State Development
infrastructure development
The state government in its state budget, 2022-2023, has announced important infrastructure projects such as the District Secretariat in Ziro and the outdoor stadiums in Yupia and Ziro. The state government has also allocated Rs. Rs 100 crore each to Atmanirbhar Krishi Yojana (agriculture) and Atmanirbhar Bagwani Yojana (horticulture).
The government has allocated Rs. Rs 15 crore for CM Rural Housing Scheme. The government has given its approval ‘in principle’ in March 2022 to establish a greenfield airport at Hollongi (Itanagar).
In August 2021, the Chief Minister Mr. Pema Khandu announced the 2,396 km Trans Arunachal Highway connecting 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
It is being built by four agencies: the state Department of Public Works, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., and the Border Highway Organization.
Agriculture and Forest Industries
Arunachal Pradesh is the largest producer of kiwifruit in India and is the second largest producer of large cardamom. The state is also notable for having large inland fishing resources.
Development of Textiles and Sericulture
For the holistic development of sericulture in Arunachal Pradesh, the state has implemented 24 sericulture projects under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme. Raw silk production in the state has also increased.
To harness the potential and increase the production of quality silk in the state, the state government has introduced a gap-filling scheme worth Rs. 5 crores in Eri and Muga cultures.
