Industrialization and the Development of Regional Economies in the State of Uttarakhand

Tomozawa Kazuo

Journal of Urban and Regional Studies on Contemporary India

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics of Uttarakhand's industrialization that was advanced through policies promoting the establishment of industrial parks, as well as the ripple effects on regional economies. The Indian government is promoting the industrial development of 'special category states' and offering them various types of incentives. These incentives are generous, and they give a competitive edge to these states in attracting industries and on-site corporations. The plains region (Tarai) was chosen as the site for industrial park development in Uttarakhand, and in a short time, an industrial belt was formed along the foot of the Siwalik mountain range. Industrialization has also significantly affected the state economy. When Uttarakhand was established in 2000, the level of development of its state economy (NSDP per person) was low. After the development of industrial parks in the latter half of the 2000s, the development level of the state economy has surpassed that of the national average. The state economy has transformed into one in which its main contributors are tourism and manufacturing. However, industrialization has not progressed evenly in all regions of the state and is instead slanted toward the plains region. This also acts toward widening the gap with mountainous regions.

industrialization

regional economies

Uttarakhand

India

Economics [ 330 ]

eng

The Center for Contemporary India Studies, Hiroshima University

(c) 2014 The Center for Contemporary India Studies, Hiroshima University

[ISSN] 2188-5222