Shimla: Nationwide slowdown has hit the hill economy too with the HP economic survey, released today, projecting the current year’s growth at 6.2 percent, against a 7.4 percent growth recorded last fiscal.
Growth has been effected because of electricity generation having dropped in the year, construction activities having slowed down and a slowdown in the community and personal service sector, Pradeep Chauhan, top economic advisor to the government said. However, the states growth would be higher than the national average of 5 percent, he added. In 2010-11 the state had recorded a growth of 8.7 percent.
Advanced estimates put the GSDP at current prices for 2012-13 at Rs 72,076 Cr where as it was Rs 63,812 Cr in 2011-12. 
Against a per capita income of Rs 74,694 in 2011-12, the survey estimates it at Rs 82.611 in the financial year ending in March.
Food grain and fruit production has shown a marginal increase over the previous year. The food grain production is estimated at 15.80 lakh tons against 15.54 lakh tons in 2011-12, the fruit production increased to 4.67 lakh tons from 3.73 lakh tons last year.
In a state where nearly 90 percent of the population lives in villages, agriculture sector contributes about 15 percent of the GSDP.
The survey records that there are 494 medium and large industries in the state and 38,592 small scale enterprises in which Rs 16,588.65 Cr capital stands invested. These industries are providing employment to about 2.11 lakh people.
During the year there were 10,620 primary schools, 2339 middle schools, 836 high schools, 1330 senior secondary schools and 75 degree colleges functioning in the state.
Technical education intake capacity at degree level was recorded at 7490 students in the year.
Under MNREGA, implemented in the states from April, 2008, a total of 159.36 lakh man days of work has been generated and employment provided to 4,11,828 families.
In the health sector there were 54 civil hospitals, 76 community health centres, 473 primary health centres, 11 ESI/civil dispensaries and 2066 sub-centres, besides other private healthcare clinics and hospitals.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
