Annual Plan 1993-94

Abstract

Himachal Pradesh came into being by merger of several princely hill States on 15th April, 1948. It underwent a series of metamorphic changes, both political and administrative, till it be-came the Eighteenth State of Indian Union on 25th January, 1971. Subsequently, reorganisation of districts in 1972 gave Himachal Pradesh the shape as it casts today. Himachal Pradesh has an area of 55,673 square kilometres and according to 1991 Census, a population of 51.11 lakh. The density of population is 92 persons per square kilometre as compared to 267 at the all India level. Himachal Pradesh is predominantly rural in character as 91.30 per cent of the population lives in rural areas and the remaining 8.70 per cent is located in 58 towns. According to 1981 Census, Scheduled Castes form 24.6 per cent of population while Scheduled Tribes account for 4.6 per cent. 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.