Overview of Arunachal Pradesh's Economy

Arunachal Pradesh, located in the northeastern part of India, is the largest state in the region by area. Known as the "Land of the Rising Sun," it is home to diverse cultures, lush green landscapes, and abundant natural resources. The state is also geopolitically significant, sharing international borders with Bhutan, China, and Myanmar. This article provides an in-depth look into the economy of Arunachal Pradesh, exploring its key sectors, challenges, and development prospects.

1. Geographical and Demographic Context

Arunachal Pradesh is endowed with vast natural resources, including forests, rivers, and minerals. The state spans approximately 83,743 square kilometers and is largely mountainous. With a population of around 1.4 million (2021 Census), the state has a low population density, and most people live in rural areas.

Key Facts:

Capital: Itanagar

Population Density: ~17 persons per sq. km

Forest Cover: ~80% of the total area

2. Contribution to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)

Arunachal Pradesh is among the smaller contributors to Indias overall GDP, reflecting its nascent industrial development and predominantly agrarian economy. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report (2023), the states GSDP grew at an average rate of 6.5% over the past five years.

Sectoral Breakdown of GSDP:

Agriculture and Allied Activities: ~35%

Industry: ~22%

Services: ~43%

3. Agriculture and Allied Activities

Agriculture remains the backbone of Arunachal Pradeshs economy, employing over 60% of the population. The state practices traditional shifting cultivation (jhum), although efforts are underway to promote modern agricultural techniques.

Key Crops:

Rice: The staple food crop

Millets and Maize: Cultivated in hilly regions

Horticulture: Oranges, apples, and pineapples

Tea and Bamboo: Emerging cash crops

Challenges:

Limited mechanization

Poor irrigation infrastructure (80% of agriculture is rain-fed)

Dependence on subsistence farming

4. Forestry and Biodiversity

Forestry plays a vital role in the states economy, contributing to both livelihoods and revenue generation. Arunachal Pradesh boasts one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world, with abundant medicinal plants, bamboo, and timber resources.

Initiatives in Forestry:

Promotion of community-based forest management

Revenue generation through bamboo-based industries

Conservation efforts to curb deforestation

5. Hydropower Potential

Arunachal Pradesh is often referred to as the Powerhouse of India due to its immense hydropower potential, estimated at around 50,000 MW. The states perennial rivers, such as the Siang, Subansiri, and Lohit, offer significant opportunities for energy generation.

Current Status:

Installed hydropower capacity: ~2,000 MW

Key Projects: Subansiri Lower Dam, Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project

Challenges:

Environmental concerns and displacement of indigenous communities

Slow project implementation due to logistical issues

6. Industrial Sector

The industrial base of Arunachal Pradesh is underdeveloped, primarily comprising small-scale industries focused on food processing, handicrafts, and bamboo products.

Prominent Industries:

Food Processing: Leveraging the states horticultural output

Handloom and Handicrafts: Showcasing tribal artistry

Bamboo Industry: Bamboo-based furniture and construction materials

Government Initiatives:

Establishment of industrial estates in Itanagar and Pasighat

Encouraging investments through the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS)

7. Tourism Sector

Tourism is a growing contributor to the economy, driven by Arunachal Pradeshs pristine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and adventure activities. Key attractions include:

Tawang Monastery: Largest Buddhist monastery in India

Namdapha National Park: A biodiversity hotspot

Ziro Valley: Known for its music festival and paddy-cum-fish farming

Challenges:

Limited infrastructure such as roads and hotels

Restricted access due to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system

8. Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure is a critical focus area for the state government, with significant investments in roads, railways, and digital connectivity.

Roadways:

Construction of the Trans-Arunachal Highway is a game-changer.

Emphasis on improving rural connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

Railways and Air Connectivity:

Operational railway line: Naharlagun to Guwahati

Greenfield airport: Hollongi Airport near Itanagar

Digital Connectivity:

Broadband penetration under the BharatNet Project

9. Trade and Commerce

The strategic location of Arunachal Pradesh offers potential for cross-border trade with Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. However, geopolitical tensions and lack of robust trade infrastructure limit this sector's growth.

10. Challenges Facing the Economy

Geographical Isolation: Rugged terrain hinders infrastructure development.

Dependence on Central Assistance: Over 90% of the states revenue comes from central grants.

Underdeveloped Markets: Limited industrial and commercial hubs.

Environmental Concerns: Development activities often conflict with conservation needs.

Migration of Youth: Out-migration for better education and employment opportunities.

11. Development Initiatives

Atma Nirbhar Arunachal: Promoting self-reliance in agriculture and small enterprises.

Hydropower Projects: Attracting private and public investments.

Skill Development Programs: Training youth in hospitality, IT, and handicrafts.

Tourism Promotion: Focused campaigns to attract domestic and international tourists.

12. Future Prospects

With its vast natural resources and unique cultural heritage, Arunachal Pradesh has significant untapped economic potential. Strategic investments in infrastructure, tourism, hydropower, and agriculture can transform the state into an economic hub for the Northeast.

Roadmap for Growth:

Accelerate hydropower project implementation

Expand industrial estates and encourage startups

Develop eco-tourism and sustainable farming practices

Strengthen cross-border trade infrastructure

Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh 2016-17

  • The estimated amount of money to be spent this financial year 2016-17is Rs.700 crore extra as compared to the last financial year, BE which stood atRs.12,533.62 crore,
  • The State’s share of Central Taxes under the 14th Finance Commission stood at Rs.7868.94 croreand central grants stood at Rs.3705.66crore, for FY 2016-17 The revenue receipt for the non-plan segment to be received from the centre is Rs.235.66 crore and for the plan segment is Rs.3470.00 crBudgets of Arunachal Pradeshore. Altogether, the revenue receipts from both centre and state amounts to Rs.12774.16 crore, a shortfall of Rs. 469.05 crore to meet the projected BE for FY 2016-17.
  • the plan segment for the FY2016-17, the Govt. projected the expenditure to be at Rs.6569.00 crore, this include revenue expenditure, capital expenditure and loans. Altogether the total expenditure projected for this FY2016-17 stands at Rs.13906.08 crore.

 

Health:

From April 2016 onwards students pursuing BSc (Nursing), ANM and GNM would be given stipend of `1400 per month. With book grants of `3000, `2000, `1000 to BSc, GNM and ANM students respectively.
-De-addiction centre in Pasighat, Tezu, Hayuliang, Khonsa, Changlang and Longding. Proposed fund of `16 Crore in 2016-17
-Government proposed an allocation of ` 973.97 Crore in 2016-17

Education:

-State Govt. will create additional post of 184 teaching staff and 166 non- teaching staff.
-All schools shall be provided with 24X7 power supply by having provision from main line, solar inverter and DG Set in a phased manner
-Internet facility shall be made available wherever possible.
-From April 2016 onwards, Salaries of all SSA teachers will be paid regularly on a monthly basis.
-Enhanced rate of stipend to students; Class I to VIII – ` 900 Monthly, Class IX to XII- `1,100 and College Students – `1,400.
-Enhanced Annual Book grant to students;  MMBS students – ` 10,000, BAMS/BHMS/BDS – `  5,000, BE/BTech – ` 1,000 and Other Students – ` 1,000.  – Government proposed an allocation of ` 1985.98 crore in 2016-17 for education.

Labour and Employment:
-Government raised the minimum wages from `4500 to `6000 per month for unskilled and fixed ` 7000 for skilled labour.

Agriculture:

-Government proposed an allocation of about `182 Crore in 2016-17.

Horticulture:

-Government proposed to make a provision of `5 crore for a scheme to provide alternative source of livelihood to opium and cannabis growers. Under this scheme, farmers will get ` 7 lakh to setup large cardamom and kiwi gardens.
-Government propsed an allocation of about `27 Crore in 2016-17.

Environment and Forests:

-Proposed to make a tentative allocation of ` 10 Crore for raising 2 battalions of Eco-task force.
-7 Crore provision for up gradation of Itanagar Zoological Garden

Municipal Council:

-Allocation of `8.96 Crore for construction of collection points, dustbins in various locations of Capital Complex region.

-Government will create 60 posts including two executive engineers, four assistant engineers, and 7 junior engineers apart from ministerial staffs like UDC, LDC, Computer Operators and fourth grade staffs.

Building and Road:

-Proposal of `14 Crore for Jully bypass road and `12 Crore for Itanagar-Jote road.

Police:

-Government will provide 224 vehicles for mobility of police force.
– Provision of `44 Crore for construction of women police stations including housing facilities in all districts.

Community Policing Suvidha Centre will be established to provide police services to the citizens and the aim behind it is to reduce fear psychosis of general public towards police.  Services to be provided by the CPSC are registration of foreigners, tenant verification, Registration and investigation of servants, Passport verification, Police clearance Certificate at the time of foreign immigration, Vehicle verification, Character verification, Copy of FIR, Missing reports etc.

-`1000 per month to police personnel as ration allowance.

IPR:

-Enhance the Corpus fund for journalist welfare from existing `1 crore to `2 crore. Additional `2 crore for construction of media colony increasing the total allocation from`3 crore to `5 crore.

Sports and Youth Affairs:

-Proposed `2 crore for CM football and Volleyball Trophy tournaments.

-`10 crore for setting up of a Youth Convention hall with resource centre and multi discipline hall at SLSA complex, Chimpu.

District Administration:

-Earmarked  `60 lakh to each Deputy Commissioner as untied fund for meeting the development needs of the district.

-Increased honorarium of `1500 to Head Gaon Burah and ` 1000 to the Gaon Burah.

DoTCL:

-Government proposed to keep a provision of `50 Crore in this budget for the overall development in the districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding.

MLALAD:

-Proposed to increase MLALAD allocation from the current ` 1.25 Crore per annum to `2 Crore per annum.

Arunachal Pradesh Schemes and Projects

Arunachal Pradesh Schemes and Projects

Chief Minister’s Adarsh Gram Yoiana 2017

  • The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to implement the Ghief Minister’s Adarsh Gram Yojana 2017 fot creating model villages in the state.

OBJECTIVE

  • The Objective of the scheme is to develop 60 Model Villages in Arunachal Pradesh, which are equipped with all basic amenities such as 24×7 Piped Drinking water,
  • Electricity at household level, primary school, primary health infrastructure, internal roads, avenues of employment generataon and are open defecation free.

SALIENT FEATURES

  1. A total of 60 model villages (l village per Legislative Assembly Constituency) will be developed initially within a period of 2 years.
  2. Selection of villages will be done by a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner along with HOO’s of respective districts and the concerned MLAs.
  3. A total outlay of Rs 1.5 Crores per village has been provided.
  4. Block Development Office will be the nodal implementing Agency.
  5. In order to generate rural employment, all works that do not require specific skills will be done by the villagers who are willing to work and are above 18 years of age. Wages will be paid as per latest MGNREGA guidelines and works will be dovetailed with MGNREGA scheme of Government of lndia.
  6. A shelf of works for the village will be recommended and approved by Gram Sabha and submitted to the BDO. This would be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Commissioner for Administrative and Technical Approval and Sanctions.
  7. All account and records relating to the scheme would be available for public scrutiny.
  8. There would be an effort on convergence with other CSS / State Plan Schemes including MLALAD for optimal results.

 

Chief Minister’s District Innovation and Challenge Fund

  • The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to implement the Scheme of “Chief Minister’s District Innovation and Challenge Fund” to ensure that public investment in the district is responsive to local requirements of the districts.
  • The following would be the key objectives of the scheme:
    1. To fill in vital gaps in public infrastructure available at the district level which is not being fully utilized in absence of relatively small investment e.g. Gove:nment hospital witfr non-functional diagnostic equipment.
    2. Catalyze opportunities for Skill Development, Sustainable Livelihood and entrepreneurship.
    3. Schemes which have positive impacts of eFficient service delivery system.
    4. Schemes which are oriented towards social sectors – Health and Education.
    5. Schemes which are targeted on welfare of marginalized section of the society. Sub:- Chief Minister’s District Innovation and Challenqe Fund.
    6. Development of Eco-tourism

Chief Minister’s Krishi Rinn Yoiona

  • The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to provide a facility of Zero interest crop loan to farmers of the State to enable them easy access to formal credit through banking channels.
  • The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to launch “Chief Minister’s Krishi Rinn Yojana” which will have the following features:-
  1. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh would provide interest subvention oi 4o/o on crop loan / Kisan Credit Card limit up to Rs.3.00 lakhs sanctioned by all banks to all farmers of the State during the current financial year. This interest subvention will be over and above the subvention given by Govt of lndia to banks and the farmers as per policy circular issued by RBI/NABARD
  2. The farmers would also get interest relief @ 30k per annum who promptly repay their short term production credit (crop loan) within one year of disbursement / drawal of such loan. ln effect, farmers who take loan of upto Rs 3.00 lakhs and make timely repayments will get access to zero interest credit facility.
  3. NABARD will act as channel partner for reimbursement to banks against interest subvention amount claims in prescribed format, for which a circular will be issued to all the banks separately.
  4. The State Government will be issuing a notification wherein a certificate of area and crop being cultivated issued by Circle Officer which will be accepted as valid documents by bank for issuance of Kisan Credit Card to the farmers.
  5. This scheme will not be available for production of perennial food crop, plantation crop.
  6. Banks and district will give adequate publicity to the above scheme so that th6 iarmers can avail the benefits.
  7. Beneflt under scheme will be extended to farmers availing KCC / crop production loan from commercial banks, APRB and APSCAB Ltd at the same terms and conditions prescribed by RBI / NABARD. Banks will make available the KCC loan application formats being used at present to all the farmers willing to apply for KCC in short term crop loan.
  8. The State Government has set a target of 7500 farmers to be covered under crop loan under Chief Minister’s Krishi Rinn Yojana in this financial year. The districl wise/bank wise target will be circulated separately to all DCs and concerned banks. These targets will be reviewed in the DLCC meetings and SLBC meetings. Any bank which fails to meet the stipulated target would be reported to RBI and Department of Financial Services.
  9. The Circle Officers will function as Financial Extension Officers of the State Government and also help the banks in timely recovery of crop loans.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Bunkar Yojana

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to launch the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Bunkar Yojana to encourage the women weavers to access affordable credit from banks for working capital requirements.Arunachal Pradesh Schemes and Projects

  1. It has been decided to introduce 7% interest subvention on short term credit / Cash Credit limit / working capital limit / Weavers Credit Card / Swarojgar Credit card availed by the women weavers of the State. The Scheme will be applicable for loans availed from Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Bank on or after 01 .04.2017 and disbursed during current financial year.
  2. lnterest subvention will be qalculated on the short term loan amount from the date of its disbursement / drawl upto the date of actual repayment of the loan by the weavers or upto the due date of the loans fixed by the banks, whichever is earlier, subject to a maximum period of one year.
  3. The benefit of the Scheme will not be applicable to term loans and other loans extended by the Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks to weaVers.
  4. The loan application will be forwarded through Circle Officer who will certify that the applicant is in p6ssession of a working loom(s).
  5. The Scheme will cover all categories of women weavers, irrespective of unit size /no. of looms and will be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
  6. Only individual women weaVer or group of woman weavers will be eligible under the Scheme. Cbmpanies and partnership firms will not be eligible.
  7. The interest subvention will be applicable for working capital loan upto Rs. 2.00 lakh irrespective of the quantum of loan extended to the weaver by the bank.
  8. A target of 3000 women weavers has been fixed for this financial year and the bank wise / district wise target will be circulated in due course. Banks who default in targets would be reported to RBl.
  9. NABARD will act as channel partner for reimbursement of interest subvention to banks which have to be claimed by the banks in the prescribed format. NABARD will issue detailed circulars to the banks in this regard.
  10. The District Administration and the bank will make all efforts for wide publicity of the scheme and the Circle Officers shall educate women self-help groups and individual weavers for timely loan repayment.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Swalamban Yoiona

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to launch the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Swalamban Yojana to encourage unemployed youth to gain access to low cost capital for entrepreneurship.

  1. Under this scheme, a provision of 30% back ended capital investment subsidy has been made for entrepreneurs, who wish to set up small and medium enterprises with a loan from Rs. 10.00 lakhs upto Rs.1 .00 crore excluding the cost of land and building.
  2. Women entrepreneurs will be additionally eligible for 5% interest subsidy annually provided the entrepreneurs does not become Non-Performing Asset (NPA).
  3. Entrepreneurs will be required to be registered under Stand Up lndia Scheme. The sectors are covered under this scheme :-.
  1. Value addition in agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors including packaging, cold chain, cold storage, milk processing, food processing etc.
  2. Ecotourism including home stays and tour operators.
  3. Traditional textile weaving for modernisation of traditional looms and ‘ purchase of new looms to start a new weaving unit.
  4. (Small scale manufacturing units to be set up by qualified graduates.
    • Entrepreneurs would be required to contribute at least 10% of project cost as their contribution. Preference will be given to those who contribute a greater proportion.

Government sanctions a major power transmission scheme for Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim to bring them fully into the grid

  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Systems (CSST&DS) in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs.4754.42 crore.
  • The scheme is to be taken up under a new Central Sector Plan Scheme of Ministry of Power (MoP).
  • As the intra-state T&D systems in the North-Eastern states have remained very weak, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) developed the CSST&DS for the North East Region (NER) in consultation with the Power Grid Corporation of the India Limited (PGCIL) and State Governments concerned.
  • Presently, only 5 out of 20 districts of Arunachal Pradesh are connected to transmission network at 132/220 KV.
  • The 33 KV system is the backbone of power distribution system in the State.
  • Due to low population density spread over its geographical area of 84,000 sq.km, power demand in Arunachal Pradesh is scattered over large distances. Hence it is necessary to provide 132 KV connectivity in the state for proper voltage management and lower distribution losses.
  • Similarly, the distribution system in Sikkim mainly relies on 66 KV network, which needs to be strengthened substantially.
  • In view of this, it is proposed to take up projects for strengthening intra-state T&D systems of the two States through 31 new 132 KV sub-stations, 14 substations of 66/11 KV, 2035 km of transmission lines (132 & 220 KV) and 2204 km of transmission lines (33 & 66 KV).
  • The project would be implemented through PGCIL with its consultancy fee of 1.2 percent of the execution cost.
  • After commissioning, the projects would be owned and maintained by the State Governments.
  • Initially the project was proposed to be funded under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resource (NLCPR – Central) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).
  • But DONER has conveyed its inability due to budgetary constraints.
  • Hence it is proposed to take it up through a new Central Sector Scheme under the MoP’s budget.
  • The project is to be implemented within 48 months from the first fund release to PGCIL

50 Biotech Laboratories to be established in Senior Secondary Schools of Arunachal Pradesh

  • Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, will set up 50 Biotech Laboratories in Senior Secondary Schools of Arunachal Pradesh under the scheme Biotech Labs in Senior Secondary Schools (BLISS) to encourage young dynamic students.
  • 75 to 100 crores have been earmarked for the implementing the projects.
  • This project will be jointly funded by Department of Bio-Technology and Rural Technology Centre of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
  • A State Level Biotech Hub will also be set up in the State for conducting high-end researches and training North Eastern Region Researchers and students, to create and train employable manpower.
  • For protection of indigenous traditional knowledge of the State, an Intellectual Property(IP) Cell will be set up in the State Science and Technology Council.
  • Five centres of excellence will also be established in different areas of Biotechnology in the State.
  • Setting up biotechnology labs in the schools will directly benefit more than ten thousand students and teachers of the state towards promoting education in biotechnology and attracting billion young students with multidisciplinary research areas.
  • The outreach programme will immensely help in generating awareness and enhancing literacy and promoting public understanding of biotechnology in the state.

 

India’s longest bridge brings Assam closer to Arunachal Pradesh

  • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated India’s longest bridge – the 9.15 km long Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the River Brahmaputra, in Assam.
  • The bridge will ensure 24X7 connectivity between upper Assam and Eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, marking a major transformation from the ferry-based, day-only connectivity that collapsed during floods.
  • It will also reduce the distance and travel time between the two states.
  • The distance between Rupai on NH- 37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh will be cut down by 165 KM. The travel time between the two places will come down from the current six hours to just one hour – a total five hour reduction.
  • Dhola-Sadiya bridge opens the door for economic development in the North East on a big scale.

 

Arunachal Pradesh Planned Development

Arunachal Pradesh Planned Development

Till the first plan period there was practically no accent of economic or social development in Arunachal Pradesh. The tribal economy was backward and non monetized economy, land was scarce, technology primitive, manpower was scarce and unskilled, malnutrition, and illiteracy were some of the visible problems.

First and Second Five Year Plan

The first five year plan sanctioned a total outlay of only Rs. 3 crore. The plan was ushered only in 1953 as a result of which the final expenditure was even lesser than the actual outlay with just Rs. 2.01 Crore.

The top priority during the first two plans were given to the transport and communication services accounting for 35 to 40 percent of total plan expenditure in order to construct all weather roads in the territory. Next priority sector was social and community services, which received 32 to 35 percent of the total plan expenditure. In the field of education, more attention was given to consolidation and improvement of existing schools, rather than setting up new ones.

The extension of medical services got into stride in 1951 with the establishment of a separate medical department. In the agriculture sector emphasis was given to draw the attention of farmers to practice settled cultivation from the usual jhum cultivation.

Third Five Year Plan

The total outlay for the third five year plan ( 1961-66) was Rs. 7.15 Crores, which was because of extra allocation of Rs. 2 Crores for improvement of communication. The urgency for the development of transport and communication was felt after the Chinese aggression in 1962. As a result of which 306 kms of road was added during the third plan. During the third plan period, the highest priority was given to social and economic infrastructure of the territory.

During the three Annual Plans (1966-69) the topmost priority was given to extension of social and community services followed by transpo.rt and communication sector. Under Social and Community Services activities were confined to motivate the people in the field of education, covering more villages with water supply schemes, provision of health facilities, etc. Industry got very meager percentage of total o_utlay in all the plan period and the possible reason could be the absence of infrastructural development coupled with the absence of manpower and other resources.

Fourth Five Year Plan

During this period the fourth five year plan (1969-74) was already underway with the total outlay of Rs. 17.99 crores but actual expenditure at the end of the plan period went up to Rs. 21 crores as shown in Table 3 .1. In the agricultural and allied sectors the objective continued to be on increase in food production through various schemes such as land reclamation and development, terracing improved jhuming, irrigation etc. And from the general framework it appeared that more emphasis was given on land development and terracing, but food production was far from the required quantity.

Fifth Five Year Plan

During Fifth Plan the Pradesh Council was converted into a provisional legislative council in 1975. Arunachal Police was established in 1974. In the same year Arunachal Pradesh Planned DevelopmentState transport Department was set up with the aim to connect the administrative headquarters and to promote greater interaction to build economic, social and cultural link within and outside the territory. Transport and communication continued to be one of the topmost priority areas, with about 35 percent of states total plan expenditure devoted for its development. New roads-both surfaced and unsurfaced were constructed connecting the sub-divisional headquarters.

Sixth Five Year Plan

The sixth five-year plan (1980-85) period brought in lot of changes in addition to the . already existing institutions as well as development process. Top-most priority was given to social and community services accounting for 31 percent of the total plan allocation. By the end of same year Plan 3 colleges, 62-higher/ high school, 132 middle/ senior basic schools and 1144 primary/ junior basic schools with the total of 1338 schools were in existence in the territory.

About. 25 percent of total fund were allocated for the further development and maintenance of the transport and comm·unication services. As a result of which 300 krn , surfaced and 800krn unsurfaced road was constructed in the VI plan.

Emphasis was also laid on the development of agriculture and allied activities, village and small-scale industries and extension of essential services in the rural and backward areas.

Seventh Five Year Plan

With an outlay of Rs. 549 crores, the main thrust in the seventh five-year plan ( 1985-90) continued to be on the development of physical and social infrastructure facilities, agriculture and allied services, power, transport and communications .

In agriculture sector the main emphasis continued to be on increase in foodgrain production to generate surplus production, to wean the jhumias to settled cultivation.

Attempt was made by government to provide subsidised transport facilities to help the farmers to dispose off their produce in nearest markets. To overcome the endemic marketing problem Arunachal Pradesh Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act was passed in 1989.

During the seventh plan and subsequent Annual plans ( 1990-91 & 1991-92) governments objective was to execute micro as well as comparatively large hydel schemes

Eighth Five Year Plan

The proposed outlay for the VIII plan was Rs. 1728.62 crores. However, the actual expenditure turned out to be Rs. 1714.62 crores. The broad objectives of the Eight five-year Plans (1992-97) were:

  • Development ofbasic infrastructure

(ii) Self-sufficiency in food. ·

(iii) Promotion of horticulture

(iv) Rapid development of local resources based on industries

(v) Development of manpower resources (vi) Welfare programme: literacy, health care, minimum needs programmes etc.

 

 

Arunachal Pradesh Food security

Arunachal Pradesh Food security

It means to provide Food and nutritional Security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Food and agriculture organization (FAO) says Food security is made up of four pillars viz. Availability, Affordability, Nutrition, and Stability.

Availability of Arunachal Pradesh Food security

Food should be available in sufficient quantity at all times and at all places. Various steps were taken to diversify the agriculture economy by encouraging the cultivation of cash crops like potatoes, and horticulture crops like apple, oranges, guavas, and pineapples, etc. Many important projects such as Regional Seed Foundation Potato Farm at Tawang, Regional Apple Nursery at Dirang, and State Horticulture Farm at Sheragaon were set up with the help of North-Eastern Council to boost agro-horticulture activities.

Apart from these Gramsevak Training Centre and farmers Training Centre located at various parts of the state impart training in scientific methods of rural development and agriculture respectively. In this way pre-agricultural level of technology in 1950 is now firmly established in the world of hybrid varieties, genes and biotechnology.

Affordability of Arunachal Pradesh Food security

Food should be affordable to poor people.

Through Targeted-PDS and National Food Security Act (NFSA), Government provides cheap grain to poor.

Public Distribution System of Arunachal Pradesh Food security

Arunachal Pradesh’s unique set of problems impinge on the implementation of the public distribution system in the state. Most significantly, many regions in the hill state are hard to access. Further, the state does not have a civil supplies corporation to manage the movement of foodgrains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns to Fair Price Shops (FPS). The FCI does not have its own godowns in the state either. In the prevailing situation, the task of procuring and transporting PDS .

The practical challenges of implementing the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Arunachal Pradesh led to the conceptualization of the Arun ePDS initiative to improve delivery through process re-engineering and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The first phase, currently under implementation, is already showing significant impact in reducing the pilferage of food rations. The initiative has resulted in rapid redressal of grievances, detection of ghost ration cards and issuance of cards to people hitherto excluded from the system.

Nutrition

Food should be nutritious to ensure healthy development of body of mind.

Through Mid-day meal, Food-security Act, Integrated-Child Development scheme (ICDS) and half dozen other schemes, Government ensures nutritious food to children.

Stability

In food prices and supply must be stable. Otherwise political and social unrest.

FCI keeps ‘buffer-stock’ of grains. It can be sold to open market or distributed among people during high inflation, natural disaster etc.Arunachal Pradesh Food security

National Food Security Act (NFSA)

Govt. of India promulgated and issued National Food Security Ordinance on  5th July’2013 to provide Food and nutritional Security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity and for matters connected therewith or  incidental thereto. The Food Security Ordinance envisage right to receive foodgrains at subsidised price by persons belonging to eligible households under Targeted Public Distribution System, nutritional support to pregnant woman, lactating mother and nutritional support to children etc. Under NFSA  every identified beneficiaries is entitled to get 5kg of foodgrain per month @ Rs. 3/- Rs. 2/- & Rs.1/- for rice, wheat and Coarse grain.
As approved by the Cabinet in the meeting on 08.08.2013, the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh had launched the NFSO’2013 in the State on 20th Aug/2013 at Itanagar.

Identification of Eligible Households

For the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the targetted coverage of population under the priority group (including AAY) is Rural 66.31% and Urban 51.55%. the state of Arunachal Pradesh took it as an opportunity under NFSA to prepare a new list of eligible households under NFSA by not only relying on old BPL and AAY lists.

Digitization of NFSA Beneficiaries
           After identification of the eligible households under NFSA, the  beneficifiaries data were digitized manually as per the standard presecribed by the GoI ensuring demographic data, FPS linkage, Family members data and PLC encoding (as per RGI standard) in ration cards for upload in the state portal for transparency and social audits. For centres with Arun ePDS running, the the data enumerations were done in the centres itself.

 

Arunachal Pradesh Public Finance and Fiscal Policy

Arunachal Pradesh Public Finance and Fiscal Policy

The own resource of the State to finance its budget is very low, and the state is highly dependent on the central inflow. Thus, the budgetary policy of the government is constrained by limited own resources on the one hand, and high unit cost of supply of public and merit goods, on the other.

The economic reform process initiated by the central government in the beginning of the 1990s has also constrained the state in terms of access to soft central resources. Adding to it, due to implementation of 6th pay commission, has resulted in bulging of the public debt which reached 68.9 per cent of the GSDP in 2006-07 and more than 100 percent in2008-09.Arunachal Pradesh Public Finance and Fiscal Policy

Further, easy access to market borrowing (after the implementation of 12th Finance Commission Report) has refueled the process, and as a result, outstanding liability of the state as shown in the budget of 2007-08 climbed to 100 percent of GSDP in 2008-9. It is with this background that the finance and fiscal issues of the state have to be considered.

Broad Budgetary trend

From 1993-94 to 2000-01, except the years 2000-01, the state had surplus in revenue account (Arunachal Pradesh Development Report, 2009). The surplus was more than 10 percent of GSDP. From 2001-02 to 2005-06 the surplus was less than 5 percent. From 2006-7 onwards the surplus became more than 10 percent in average up to the year 2012-13.

The trend in fiscal deficit is also same in line of revenue deficit. It was 3 to 9 percent of GSDP in between 1993-1998-99. In 1999-2000, it went up above 40 percent of GSDP then remained stable around 15 to 20 percent of GSDP).

From 2001-2 to 2005-06it was hovering around 12 to 15 percent of GSDP. After the stricture given by 12th Finance commission, fiscal deficit came down to less than 5 percent of GSDP up to in 2006-07, 2007-8 and in 2009-10.

Again from 20011-12 onwards fiscal deficit is hovering around 10 percent of GSDP. Interest payment as a percentage of GSDP was around 5-6 percent in between 1993-94 to 2000-01. From 2001 to 2006-7 it remained around 4 percent and there after started declining and became 2.46 percent in 2012-13.

Outstanding Debt

Market Loan: Share of Market loan in total outstanding liability has undergone a significant change over time during 1991-92 and 2007-08.1 In Arunachal Pradesh, the share went up from 12.24 percent in 1991- 92 to 19.27 percent in 2006-07. Then, with some variation marker loan alone constitute 26.44 percent of total outstanding liability in 2013-14. Thus, over time, market loan is gaining importance in the state.

 NSSF: As discussed above, NSSF became a separate head in the debt accounting system in 1999-2000. Therefore, here the analysis will pertain to the period 2000-01 and 2013-14. In 2000-01, NSSF had a small share of 0.14 percent in 2001-02. In 2006-07, the share became 19.27 percent in Arunachal Pradesh and hovered around as low as 9 percent in 2008-09 and became 15.63 percent in 2013-14.

Loan from Financial institutions: Under this head also a significant change in share was observed during 1991-92 and 2007-08 in Arunachal Pradesh. It was as low as 0.14 percent in 2000-01 and as high as 21 percent in 2006-07. Subsequently remained around 15-17 percent thereafter.

Loan and Advance from the Central government: Central government’s Loan and Advance to the states was around 56.33 percent in 2006-07 in Arunachal Pradesh.Wihh a steady decline it became 6.97 percent in 2013-14. Thus, in 2006-07, a drastic fall in the share of Central government loan in total outstanding debt liability took place. This was basically due to conversion of high interest rate bearing central loan by low interest loan from the market and financial institution. Further, it happened because of 12th Finance Commissions’ incentives.

 Public Accounts: Share of Public accounts in total debt liability was 40 percent and above in the state in 1991-2.Within the public accounts share of provident fund increased from 11.54 percent in 1991-92 to 36.33 percent in 2006-07. Then it declined to 11 percent in 2008-09. In between 2009-10 and 2013-14 it remained around 23 to 25 percent.

Implementation of FRBM Act in Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh FRBM Act has been implemented since 2006-07. FRBM Act’s provisions were passed into a law in March 2006. Since then the State Government  has been implementing the different provisions in letter and spirit. The FRBM Act was amended in 2010-11 and the following targets were set:

  • To maintain revenue surplus in all the years from 2010-11 to 2014-15;
  • To reduce fiscal deficit to 3 per cent of GSDP by 2011-12 and maintain the
  • Same during 2011-15, The amended FRBM set the year-wise target of total debt in relation to the State’s GSDP.

Composition of Revenue

The tax collected by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh constitutes a small portion, less than 5 percent, of the total revenue at its disposal. The rest are share of central tax, the state’s own non-tax revenue, and most important of all, the grant from the Central Government.

From 2001-02 to 2011-12 own tax of the state averaged 3.63 percent of the total revenue. On the other end of the spectrum is the grant from the Central Government, which averaged as high as 84.06 percent of the total revenue. Not only own-tax revenue, but also the share of the central tax is not high, being only 12.31 percent of the total during the eleven-year period from 2001-02 to 2011-12.

Total tax, own and central share, averaged 15.94 percent of the total during 2001-12. Compared with the own tax, the state’s own non-tax is high averaging 11.92 percent of the total revenue during 2001-02.

Revenue and Capital expenditure

The overall expenditure of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh is dominated by what is called ‘consumption; the revenue part of the expenditure varied during 2001-12 from a low of 66.68 percent to a high of 74.62 percent of the total.

The capital expenditure varied between 25.38 percent of the total to 33.32 percent. Table 2. 3 shows the composition of expenditure and its magnitude in the State’s GSDP. The Government expenditure is very high in the state forming more than 50 percent of its GSDP.

The expenditure varied during 2001-12 between 53.82 percent of the GSDP, the lowest value and 74.77 percent, the highest value. The revenue expenditure varied from a low of 39.67 percent of the GSDP in 2011-12 to a high of 50.49 percent of the GSDP in 2008-09. The capital expenditure as the percentage of the GSDP was lowest in 2001-02, only 13.66. This percentage reached the peak during the reference period in 2008-09 when it was 24.28 percent of the GSDP.

 

Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms

Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms

Major Land Mark Economic Reform Goods and Service tax

The launch of GST on July 1, 2017 was indeed a historic occasion and a paradigm shift as India moved towards ‘One Nation, One Tax, One Market’.

Benefits:

  • Consumers – Removal of cascading in taxes and efficiency gains will bring down the overall cost paid by consumers.
  • Trade and Industry –
  1. It will benefit because of uniform single indirect tax throughout the country, seamless flow of input tax credit, removal of tax related barriers ate inter-state borders, reduced logistic costs, end to end IT enabled system and minimal interface with tax authorities.
  2. Exports will become more competitive and Make in India programme will get a major fillip due to increased ease of doing business and protection from cheap imports as all imports will be subject to integrated GST, in addition to the basic custom duty.
  • Manufacturers – They will be able to take rational decisions with regard to sourcing of raw materials, location of manufacturing and warehousing facilities.
  • Central and State Governments – Will witness tax buoyancy and the tax collection costs will reduce significantly.
  • Ease of doing business –
  1. Simpler tax regime with fewer exemption
  2. Reduction in compliance costs – no multiple record keeping for a variety of taxes so lesser manpower needed
  3. Simplified and automated procedures for various processes such as registration, returns, refunds etc.
  4. All interaction to be through the common GSTN portal – minimal public interface between the tax payers and administration
  5. Harmonization of laws, procedures and rates of taxes

Need for Constitutional Amendment:

  • Indian constitution had clearly demarcated the fiscal powers between Centre and States as per the entries in Union and State list.
  • Centre – Levy tax on the manufacture of goods (except alcoholic liquor for human consumption, opium, narcotics etc.). Centre, alone, is also empowered to levy service tax.
  • State – Levy tax on the sale of goods.
  • In case on inter-state sales, the Centre had power to levy tax (the Central Sale Tax) by the tax was collected and retained entirely by the states.
  • Amendment concurrently empowered the Centre and States to levy and collect GST.

Journey to launch of GST in India:

  • The idea of GST was first mooted in 2000 and a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Asim Dasgupta (the then West Bengal Finance Minister).
  • In 2003, another task force under Vijay Kelkar to recommend tax reforms were formed.
  • During the presentation of 2006-07 union budget, the govt. proposed to introduce GST from April 1, 2010.
  • The constitutional amendment (122nd) bill was introduced in 2014 and finally became act in September 2016. It became the 101st Amendment act.

Constitution (101st Amendment) Act 2016:

  • It empowers both, the Centre and the States, to levy and collect GST.
  • The GST has been defined as a tax on supply of goods or services or both, except supply of alcoholic liquor for human consumption.
  • Thus, alcohol for human consumption has been kept out of the GST by way of the definition of GST in the constitution.
  • On the other hand, five petroleum products viz. petroleum crude, motor spirit (petrol), high speed diesel, natural gas and aviation turbine fuel have temporarily been kept out and GST council would decide the date from which they shall be inducted in GST.
  • Inter-State supply of goods and services (Integrated GST, IGST) would be levied and collected by Centre. It will ensure that the GST is truly destination based consumption tax and there is seamless flow of input tax credit, even when goods and services are moving from one state to another state.

The GST Council of Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms:

  • The guiding principle of the GST Council is to ensure harmonization of different aspects of GST between the Centre and the States as well as among States with a view to develop a harmonized national markets for goods and services within India.
  1. Chairperson – Union FM,Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms
  2. Vice Chairperson – to be chosen amongst the ministers of State Govt.
  3. Members – MOS (Finance) and all Ministers of Finance/Taxation of each state
  4. Quorum – 50% of total members
  5. States – 2/3 weightage and Centre – 1/3 weightage
  6. Decision by 75% majority (the weightage of voting has been so assigned that it is not possible for either the Centre or the states to take any decision unilaterally)
  • However, till now all the decisions in the council have been taken by consensus and there has not been any occasion for voting.
  • The difficult issue of cross empowerment and administrative division of tax payers between the states and center was resolved in a true spirit of give and take.
  • Council to make recommendations on everything related to GST including laws, rules and rates etc.
  • The newly created constitutional body, the GST Council, has emerged as a new model of cooperative federalism, where the centre and the states are willing to share and pool in their sovereignty and give fiscal space to each other.

Compensation to the Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms:

  • As GST is a destination based tax, there was an apprehension that many manufacturing states might lose revenue after implementation of GST.
  • Hence, the act provides for the compensation to the States for loss of revenue arising on account of implementation of GST for a period of 5 years.
  • The compensation act has fixed the revenues of the year 2015-16 as the base year revenues and further a nominal annual growth rate of 14% has been provided.
  • The Act provides for levying of a cess, which shall be used for compensation to the states in case there is loss of revenue. This cess shall be levied on luxury items and goods.

Deciding Tax Rates of Arunachal Pradesh Tax and economic reforms:

  • While deciding tax rates, the council has tried to achieve balance between three objective:
  • To ensure that interests of poor and vulnerable sections of the society are protected and goods of mass consumption and essential commodities remain at affordable level.
  • To ensure that the overall revenues of the States and the Centre are protected.
  • To see that the tax incidence on the goods and services does not increase or decrease substantially from the present incidence of tax.
  • Hence four tax rates of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% slabs have been decided.

Supporting Medium and Small Enterprises:

  • The law provides for an exemption threshold where by it is not mandatory for a business whose aggregate turnover in a financial year is less than Rs. 20 lakh ( Rs. 10 lakh for special category states) to register.
  • There is also a composition scheme under which an eligible registered person, whose aggregate turnover in preceding financial year did not exceed Rs. 75 lakhs can opt to file summarized returns on a quarterly basis.
  • The taxpayers dealing in goods and restaurant sector can only opt for the composition
  • Under the composition scheme, the manufacturer will pay tax at the rate of 1%, restaurant sector @ 2.5% and traders @ 0.5% of the turnover each under CGST act and SGST act.
  • However, the service providers and the tax payers making inter-state supplies or making supplies through e-commerce operators are not eligible for composition scheme.

Tracking Tax leakages and Corruption:

  • The mechanism of matching of invoices will ensure that the input tax credit of purchased goods and services will only be available if the taxable supplies received by the buyers get matched against the taxable supplies received by the suppliers.
  • The GST Network is responsible for the IT backbone and is geared to generate more than 3 billion invoices per month.
  • It will check tax frauds, tax evasion and would bring more and more businesses into formal economy.
  • Tax payers can register, file returns and make payment of taxes on a single portal on the
  • Even in rare case, if the tax payer is to interact with the tax authorities, he will have to interact with only one authority either from the State govt. or from the Central govt.

Conclusion:

The launch of GST is a transformative reform and will change the way businesses are done in India. Radical change of this magnitude is bound to bring about some pain bu the gains of little pain are going to be many and long lasting for the Indian economy.

 

Main Features of Arunachal Economy

Main Features of Arunachal Economy

Introduction

  • The economy of Arunachal Pradesh is predominantly agrarian. Agriculture and allied activities have overriding importance as a source of livelihood to the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The State’s economy is characterized by persistent stringent financial situation marked by a very low level of State’s own resources co-existing with high level of borrowing.
  • The State has been suffering from impaired economic development due to bottlenecks in development of roads, civil aviation etc. in terms of per capita State Domestic Product and other development indices such as power, road length, Arunachal Pradesh ranks below national average.
  • Arunachal Pradesh is one of the Special Category States and is largely dependent on Central Assistance for Plan investment as the scope of internal mobilization of resources is limited in Arunachal Pradesh in view of low tax base. Therefore, the prime mover of the growth of the economy has been the flow of funds from the Centre.
  • The relatively isolated economies of the tribal communities of the area, which were later reorganized as Arunachal Pradesh, were gradually integrated into the larger economy only after independence, and more particularly after the Indo-China war of 1962. Apart from the relatively late exposure to modernization, another specificity of the historical transformation of the Arunachal economy was the role of the State as the prime mover in this process of gradual transformation and integration of the economy.
  • Arunachal Pradesh has now witnessed remarkable social and economic changes within a comparatively short period of time. The State’s economy has not only experienced a remarkable growth over the past decades, it has diversified from agriculture and forestry based subsistence economy into a market economy.
  • In 1970-71 the per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) of Arunachal Pradesh was 56.14 percent of the per capita national income. Starting from a very low base, Arunachal’s per capita income increased at a faster rate than the country’s national income.
  • The predominantly barter economies are in the process of being transformed into a monetized economy. The market institutions are still underdeveloped in many respects, and there is a great deal of regional variations in the degree of integration with the market economy.
  • There is a significant change in terms of land tenure system, which is steadily leading to individual ownership by making collective ownership (clan, village, community ownership) a marginal phenomenon. In urban or semi-urban areas, land became a commodity for earning cash and ‘brewing social conflicts’
  • Subsistence nature of farming coupled with modern consumption structure is the driving force behind the changing economic institutions in Arunachal Pradesh. The rural urban migration, due to pull factors in the state, has resulted in substantial increase in employment in service sector. Thus, the process of modernization has led to the transformation of the traditional economic institutions in the State.
  • In the context of Arunachal Pradesh, power sector is the most vital infrastructure input for socio- economic development and has assumed centre stage because of huge hydropower potential.
  • At the time of independence there were less than 100 km. of dirt roads. At the time attaining statehood in 1987 the total road length was only 3419 km and today it stands at 21066.36 km i.e., 25.16 km/ 100 sq. km a quantum jump in progress.
  • The prospect of creating an industrial base in the state seems daunting in the light of the ecological and economic specificities of the state. However, a carefully designed strategy for establishing specific industries having strong forward and backward linkages has been envisaged in the New Industrial Policy-2008 of the State.

Economic Reforms

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has been pursuing economic reforms for speedy development. There has been a significant fiscal correction in the last couple of years. Major reforms initiated by the State are

  • The State has taken various measures to curtail non-plan and unproductive expenditure and to increase State’s Own tax and non-tax revenue. The State’s own tax which was around Rs. 37.00 crore has now jumped to above Rs.80 crore this year. Because of various initiatives in development of hydropower, mines and minerals etc. The non-tax revenue is also increasing substantially.Main Features of Arunachal Economy
  • The State Govt. has enacted the ‘Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act 2006’ and in accordance the ‘Arunachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Rule 2007’ have been framed to ensure prudence in fiscal management.
  • Mobilization of State’s own resource is pre-requisite for financing the annual plan. The Finance Department is in constant touch with revenue generating departments and monitoring meticulously for greater revenue generation.
  • The gross fiscal deficit which was at 13.85% of GSDP in 2004-05 has been reduced to 3.57 in 2007-08. • Serious restrictions have been put for the non-developmental expenditure including the post creation. • The Plan schemes are now being executed in Project Mode with the introduction of the concept of non-divertible earmarked allocation. The State Govt. has constituted very high level committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to scrutinize the project proposals.
  • The State Govt. has notified “Hydro Electric Power Policy 2008” to accelerate investments in development of hydro power projects having installed capacity above 25 MW. The Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh had also announced “Small Hydro Power Policy 2007“for small hydro power projects upto an installed capacity of 25 MW.
  • The State PWD has reduced its manpower by 7000 Nos. through VRS. It will lead a saving of Rs. 30.00 crore per year. Other departments with surplus man-power are also working out the modalities.
  • To minimize the burden of committed liabilities of salary, Government of Arunachal Pradesh has transferred 13265 Nos. Plan posts of 37 Nos. departments from 7th Five Year Plan onwards during Annual Plan 2008-09 in the first phase. Transfer of remaining 8 Nos departments as well as committed liabilities of 8 departments will be taken care in the second phase during Annual Plan 2009-10. As a result provision Direction and Administration has been reduced to 27.69% during 2008-09 compared to 44.14% during Annual Plan 2007-008.

 

Arunachal Industrial Policy

Arunachal Industrial Policy

Objectives:

The Industrial Policy, 2008 of Arunachal Pradesh is formulated to achieve the following objectives:

  • To create an investment-friendly environment in the State for industrial growth in the private/ joint venture / cooperative sectors for sustainable economic development of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • To generate employment opportunities in the State.
  • To make Arunachal Pradesh a preferred destination for outside investors.
  • To encourage local entrepreneurs to set up enterprises based on locally available raw materials.
  • To promote export oriented industrial units.
  • To take steps to promote hand loom and handicrafts.
  • To promote local investors through joint ventures with outside investors.
  • To encourage industrial units producing high value – low volume products.
  • To ensure fast track clearance of industrial proposals.Arunachal Industrial Policy

Focus Industries

Focus Industries will be

  • Industries based on agricultural, horticultural and plantation produce.
  • Industries based on non-timber forest produce: bamboo, cane (rattan), medicinal plants / herbs, aromatic grass, tea, coffee etc.
  • Industries based on locally available raw materials except timber.
  • Textiles (handlooms and power looms), Handicrafts and Sericulture
  • Electronics and IT based Enterprises.
  • Mineral Based Industries ( eg. Ferro-alloys, Cement Plant etc.).
  • Facilitation and Development of Industrial Infrastructure including Power, Communications etc. under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
  • Food Processing Industries.
  • Engineering and Allied Industries (Rolling Mill, Steel etc.).
  • Tourism (tourism infrastructure including resorts, hotels, restaurants etc.).

Main Features of Arunachal Industrial Policy

  • The State Government shall make special efforts to create proper infrastructure by promoting establishment of Industrial Estates, Industrial Growth Centres, Integrated Infrastructure Development Centres, Small Industries Cluster Development, Export Promotion Industrial Parks, Export Promotion Zones, Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Food Parks; strengthening of existing Industrial Estates, Border Trade Centres, Industrial Cluster Development etc,.
  • Entrepreneur(s)/ a group of entrepreneurs/ consortium of industries will be allowed cent percent equity holding / ownership of their industrial unit(s)/enterprises for a period of 50 years.
  • Entrepreneurs/ Investors shall be allowed to hold the land on lease for a period of 50 years on a predetermined lease rent. The consideration for lease of land may be in the form of annual or lump sum payments or equity participation.
  • State Government shall provide 99% Sales Tax (VAT) / Entry Tax exemption to eligible industrial units on import of actual raw materials, machineries and equipments into Arunachal Pradesh as also on sale of finished goods in the State for a period of 7 years from the date of commencement of commercial production.
  • At present, trading licenses are issued only to indigenous local traders. The present policy will continue to hold good for small scale industries/enterprises. However, under this policy the trading license will be issued to all entrepreneurs including outside investors for the industries/ enterprises which involve investments of minimum Rs 5.00 Crore in plant and machineries, whereas in case of service sector the minimum investment on equipments should not be less than Rs.2.00 Crore to qualify for obtaining trading license.
  • State Government Departments and other state Government controlled bodies and organizations, while making purchases will give price preference to the products manufactured by registered Micro and Small Enterprises
  • The Department of Industries shall be the Nodal Department for quality control of all industrial products in the state and for the products notified by the union government from time to time.
  • Special incentives will be provided to eligible Food Processing Units as additional State Capital Investment Subsidy @ 20 % subject to a ceiling of Rs.25.00 lakhs.
  • The financial institutions’ under the control of the State Government will be revamped and the District Industries Centers and financial institutions will work in tandem to ensure smooth flow of credit to new projects, existing industrial units for modernisation/ expansion/ diversification, village industries and rural artisans.
  • A State Level Industrial Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be constituted, which will comprise the Commissioners/ Secretaries of the concerned administrative department and representatives from banking and financial institutions as members for smooth passage of various clearances through a Single Window Clearance System.

 

Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

Main Features of budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

Constitutional Provision of Budget of State

As per Article 202 of the Constitution of India the Governor of a State shall, cause to be laid before the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State a Statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the State for a financial year. This estimated statement of receipt and expenditure for a financial year named in the Constitution as the “Annual Financial Statement” is commonly known as “Budget”

A-202 Annual Financial Statement                                                                              

  1. The Governor shall in respect of every financial year cause to be laid before the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the State for that year, in this Part referred to as the “annual financial statement”.
  2. The estimates of expenditure embodied in the annual financial statement shall show separately—
    1. the sums required to meet expenditure described by this Constitution as expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the State; and
    2. the sums required to meet other expenditure proposed to be made from the Consolidated Fund of the State; and shall distinguish expenditure on revenue account from other expenditure.
  3. The following expenditure shall be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of each State—
  4. the emoluments and allowances of the Governor and other expenditure relating to his office;
  5. the salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and, in the case of a State having a Legislative Council, also of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council;
  6. debt charges for which the State is liable including interest, sinking fund charges and redemption charges, and other expenditure relating to the raising of loans and the service and redemption of debt;Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh
  7. expenditure in respect of the salaries and allowances of Judges of any High Court;
  8. any sums required to satisfy any judgment, decree or award of any court or arbitral tribunal;
  9. any other expenditure declared by this Constitution, or by the Legislature of the State by law, to be so charged.

A- 203 Procedure in Legislature with respect to estimates

  • So much of the estimates as relates to expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of a State shall not be submitted to the vote of the Legislative Assembly, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the discussion in the Legislature of any of those estimates.
  • So much of the said estimates as relates to other expenditure shall be submitted in the form of demands for grants to the Legislative Assembly, and the Legislative Assembly shall have power to assent, or to refuse to assent, to any demand, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount specified therein
  • No demand for a grant shall be made except on the recommendation of the Governor.

A- 204 Appropriation Bills

(1) As soon as may be after the grants under article 203 have been made by the Assembly, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of all moneys required to meet—

  1. the grants so made by the Assembly; and
  2. the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before the House or Houses.

(2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in the House or either House of the Legislature of the State which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final.

(3) Subject to the provisions of articles 205 and 206, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of the State except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

A- 205            Supplementary, additional or excess grants

  1. The Governor shall—
  1. if the amount authorised by any law made in accordance with the provisions of article 204 to be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the purposes of that year or when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the annual financial statement for that year, or
  2. if any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service and for that year,cause to be laid before the House or the Houses of the Legislature of the State another statement showing the estimated amount of that expenditure or cause to be presented to the Legislative Assembly of the State a demand for such excess, as the case may be.
    1. The provisions of articles 202, 203 and 204 shall have effect in relation to any such statement and expenditure or demand and also to any law to be made authorising the appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure or the grant in respect of such demand as they have effect in relation to the annual financial statement and the expenditure mentioned therein or to a demand for a grant and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure or grant.

A- 206 Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants

  1. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have power—
  1. To make any grant in advance in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of any financial year pending the completion of the procedure prescribed in article 203 for the voting of such grant and the passing of the law in accordance with the provisions of article 204 in relation to that expenditure;
  2. To make a grant for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of the State when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in an annual financial statement;
  3. To make an exceptional grant which forms no part of the current service of any financial year; and the Legislature of the State shall have power to authorise by law the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Fund of the State for the purposes for which the said grants are made.
  4. The provisions of articles 203 and 204 shall have effect in relation to the making of any grant under clause (1) and to any law to be made under that clause as they have effect in relation to the making of a grant with regard to any expenditure mentioned in the annual financial statement and the law to be made for the authorisation of appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund of the State to meet such expenditure.

Arunachal Pradesh State Budget of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The Gross state domestic product is estimated to be Rs 21,414 crores in 2016-17, growing from a level of Rs 11062.69 crores five years ago.
  • There is a slow but perceptible shift of economic activity from the primary sector to the tertiary sector in the last few years. Nonetheless, the primary sector contributed to 38.21% of GSDP at constant prices, while the tertiary sector contributed to 40.28% of GSDP.
  • The Share of Central taxes grew from actual receipt of Rs 7075.58 crores in 2015-16 to Rs 8388.30 crores in revised estimates of 2016-17.
  • The state’s own tax revenue in the revised estimates of 2016-17 was Rs 650.63 crores as against actual receipt of Rs 535.07 crores in 2015-16, growing at 21.59%. Nearly 94% of the tax revenue was collected by the Tax and excise department.
  • The non-tax revenue receipt in the revised estimates of 2016-17 is estimated at Rs 506.79 crores as against an actual collection of Rs 392.12 crores in 2015-16, showing a growth of 29.2%.
  • The fiscal deficit targets laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act 2006 and state had a fiscal deficit of 0.4% of GSDP in revised estimates of 2016-17, which is well within the 3% obligation as per the FRBM Act. For the next financial year, the fiscal deficit target of the state is 2.83% of GSDP.
  • The outstanding borrowing and debt liability of the state was pegged at 22.26% of GSDP in 2015-16 which is estimated to be 21.94% of GSDP in the revised estimates of 2016-17, which is well below the prescribed norm of 25%.
  • The underpinning philosophy of the budget draws upon the following 15 broad themes in Arunachal Pradesh:
  1. Enhance transparency through governance reforms.
  2. Empower the youth and squarely address the twin challenge of deficit in skills and jobs
  3. Transformation of rural farm economy
  4. Unlock the latent potential of land
  5. Introducing policy measures which stimulates entrepreneurship
  6. Public investments to have a balanced regional spread
  7. Overhaul the educational system in the state
  8. Create an effective and affordable health services delivery model
  9. Create a social security net for the elderly , widows and the disabled
  10. Take measures for women empowerment
  11. Bridge the infrastructure deficit.
  12. Revitalize the hydro power sector and tourism
  13. Augment the internal resource generation capacity.
  14. Effective Law and Order management
  15. Follow a Sustainable growth path in harmony with environment

Major Points

Governance Reforms

  • The Budget Estimates of 2017-18 has done away with the distinction of Plan and Non Plan and classifies the receipts and expenditure only in Capital and Revenue heads
  • To harmonize the functioning of the Planning and Finance department into an integrated Department of Finance and Investments headed by the Development Commissioner, with three different wings: Investment and Planning division, Budget division and Economic Affairs division. This will help in developing a holistic perspective of planning, resource mobilization and expenditure.
  • The Centrally sponsored schemes will be implemented on the Public Financial Management System platform. The Finance department will make online transfers of money to the current accounts of concerned department opened for each Centrally Sponsored Scheme expeditiously and the departments in turn will transfer money directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries for beneficiary oriented schemes. This will be a path breaking reform in streamlining the manner in which CSS schemes are currently administered and usher in greater simplicity in transactions as well as transparency.
  • The trinity of JAM – Jandhan, Aadhar and Mobile will be used for delivery of citizen services and moving towards a cashless and paperless economy–over 13 lakh bank accounts in Arunachal Pradesh of which nearly 2.2 lakh are Prime Minister Jandhan Yojana accounts. Nearly 1.4 lakh bank accounts are seeded with Aadhar
  • E Office will be made fully functional within this financial year for all departments in the Secretariat and steps will be initiated for ushering in the E office platform in the districts and the Directorates.
  • A computerized human resource management system will be introduced for all government employees which will integrate details of salaries, deductions, loans, increments etc.
  • Computerization of treasuries will be completed this year and an integrated on line Budget and expenditure management system will be rolled out which will streamline the functioning of the finance department.
  • A Chief Ministers dashboard will be created on an electronic platform which will track progress of key projects, including budget announcements, across the state through a regular video conferencing interface with all Deputy Commissioners
  • Stipends of students, scholarships, old age pensions, salaries of teachers of SSA, RUSA and RMSA will be paid on a direct benefit transfer mode directly into their bank accounts.

Employment and Skills of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • To establish a Skill University in Arunachal Pradesh on a PPP framework.
  • Aim to train 9000 youth in the coming financial year under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana with minimum 70% employment guarantee and an outlay of Rs 24 crores. Four ITI’s will be made operational next year: at Sagalee, Ziro, Kanubari and Pangin. One model ITI will be established at Yupia with an outlay of Rs 2.5 crores.
  • Chief Minister’s Bunkar Yojana
  • Chief Minister’s Swalamban Yojana. A back ended 30% Capital investment subsidy will be provided for small and medium enterprises on loans ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crores excluding land and building.

Agriculture and allied Sectors of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • To achieve self-sufficiency in food grains: Rice, other coarse cereals and Pulses production by 2020 and total Rice sufficiency by 2023 from the present day deficit levels of 27%
  • To promote organic Agriculture movement by producing organic plant nutrients and other inputs to reduce external dependence.
  • To establish Four Tea & Rubber nurseries -Rubber Nurseries at Govt. Farm Kherem and Sonajuli and Tea nurseries at Govt. Farm Bolung and Jumlo to be under technical supervision of Agriculture Dept. A sum of Rs.10.00 cr is earmarked for this purpose during 2017-18.
  • An allocation of Rs 3 crores is being made under the Chief Minister’s Krishi Rinn Yojana.
  • A state level Agriculture Information Hub cum Farmers’ Hostel will be established at Naharlagun to serve as the node for knowledge and resource sharing for agriculture and allied sectors.This will become the central resource pool with information for farmers in both audio-visual as well as electronic mode. It will be equipped with state of the art agri-information devices for the farming community and also provide accommodation for farmers and Extension workers. An initial allocation of Rs 5 crores is being proposed for this purpose during 2017-18.
  • Establishment of State Horticulture Research and Development Institute (SHRDI) under Department of Horticulture at Itanagar in the year 2014 to provide sustained technical support for our farmers.
  • To give one time Corpus Fund of Rs. 5 crores to State Horticulture Research and Development Institute which will be utilized by the institute for core activities including revenue generating activities that aims at ultimately becoming self-sustaining in future.
  • To create new nurseries across different agro-climatic zones of the State. Four new nurseries including one for High Altitude Medicinal Plants will be established at Ziro, Lower Subansiri for temperate crops, Basar, West Siang for Sub-tropical crops and Namsai for tropical crops and at Tawang for medicinal plants. All four new nurseries will be managed by the SHRDI.
  • An initial outlay of Rs 5 crores is being proposed for the Chief Minister’s white revolution program to establish an integrated dairy development project in Lohit district

Unlocking the potential of Land

  • A land pooling policy will be notified which will make landowners partners in progress in key infrastructure and industrial development projects, while reducing the burden of land acquisition cost for the state

Industry and Private Investments of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • To roll out a new Industrial policy 2017
  • To develop Industrial estates in the foothill districts
  • To develop one food park at Tippi which will have common infrastructure facilities for investors including packaging, storage and processing

Balanced Regional Development of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • To develop Pasighat, Tezu and Bomdila as regional growth centres, which would have all facilities at the regional level for education, healthcare, employment generation, skilling and serve as economic growth hubs
  • To keep a provision of Rs 50 crores in the budget for socio economic development in the districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding under DOTCL
  • To establish Chief Minister’s District Innovation and Challenge Fund, with a corpus of Rs 100 crores

Rural Transformation of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • The Rural Development department will be implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in rural areas of Arunachal Pradesh with a proposed outlay of Rs 270 crores
  • Under the RURBAN Mission, Tuting is being developed as a rural cluster through which rural areas would be provided with urban amenities. Nafra cluster will be taken up for implementation in the next financial year and an outlay of Rs 5 crores has been proposed for this scheme.
  • Rural road construction works are being undertaken across the state under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana. This year, 16 roads have been taken up to cover 35 habitations, covering a length of 236 km. For the financial year 2017-18, we have set an ambitious target of covering 1000 km of rural roads and an outlay of Rs 450 crores has been proposed for this purpose

Education

  • A sum of 30 crores is being earmarked for Chief Minister’s Adhunik Shiksha Yojana to cover nearly 1500 classrooms under this program.
  • To allocate a sum of Rs 2 crores for completion of works of VKV Longding and a sum of Rs 10 crores for starting classes at VKV Mukto on a PPP basis
  • To establish an Education Hub at Tezu

Health

  • To make an allocation of Rs. 15 crores for procurement and installation of CT scan machines at Naharlagun and Pasighat
  • To allocate a sum of Rs. 10 crores for modernization of existing drug deaddiction centres at Pasighat, Tezu, Namsai, Changlang, Papum Pare, including for purchase of required medicines and equipment. A new drug deaddiction centre will be established at Khonsa.
  • The infrastructure and equipment of 5 zonal general hospitals will be upgraded at Bomdila, Tezu, Ziro, Aalo and Khonsa for which a provision of Rs. 25 crores is proposed.

Social security

  • To make an allocation of Rs. 60 crores under the Chief Minister’s Social security scheme and the benefit will be transferred to the beneficiary directly under the Direct Benefit transfer scheme.
  • To increase the honorarium of anganwadi workers to Rs. 4500 per month and for anganwadi helpers to Rs. 3000 per month to provide them adequate incentive for work
  • Under the integrated child protection scheme, six new juvenile homes are proposed to be constructed at Aalo, Bomdila, Changlang, Tezu, Roing, Yupia and an allocation of Rs. 6 crores is proposed

Infrastructure of Budgets of Arunachal Pradesh

  • A total length of the 2570.82 Km of National Highways/ State Road is being implemented under the Highway Programme of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, of which our own PWD is executing 16 packages with a road length of 419.88 km, Ministry of Road transport and highway is executing 3 projects with a road length of 710.95 km, BRO is executing 22 packages with a road length of 717.78 km, NHIDCL is executing 25 packages with a road length of 722 km

Forest and environment

  • Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most richly endowed biodiversity zones of India. The rich forest cover, flora, fauna and wildlife are unique in the national context. Even as the state marches on the path of development, we must preserve, protect and nurture this habitat.
  • The Forest department undertakes programs under Project Elephant, Project tiger and Wildlife Habitat program at Pakke tiger reserve, D Ering wildlife sanctuary and Namdapha wild life sanctuary. A sum of Rs. 8.7 crores is being proposed for allocation for these programs.
  • U nder the National Forest Mission and Bamboo Mission, an allocation of Rs. 3.2 crores is being proposed.

Government servants

  • To introduce a Chief Minister’s Employee Housing Scheme under which employees can avail bank loan of upto Rs. 30 lakhs and will get an interest subsidy of 4% from government. This will entail a net interest rate of 4.5% and a doubling of housing loan entitlement