Draft Eighth Five Year Plan 1990-95 and Annual Plan 1991-92

Abstract

From Chpt. 1: Himachal Pradesh came into being by merger of thirty and odd princely hill states on 15th April, 1946. It underwent a series of metamorphic changes, both political and administrative, till it became- the Eighteenth State of Indian Union on 25th January, 1971. Subsequently, re-organisation of districts in 1972 gave Himachal Pradesh the shape as it exists today. Himachal Pradesh has an area of 55,673 square,kilometres and a population of 42.81 lakh according to 1981 Census. The density of population is 77 persons per square kilometre as compared to 216 at the All-India level. As much as 92 percent of the population lives in rural areas and the remaining 6 percent-is located in 46 towns.' Scheduled Castes form 24.6 percent of population while Scheduled Tribes account for 4,6 percent. The areas comprising of Kinnaur District, Lahaul and Spiti district and Pangi and Bharmour tehsils of Chamba district form the tribal areas of the Pradesh.