Editorial reviews: Indian States At A Glance 2008-09
Indian States at a Glance 2008-09: Performance, Facts and Figures presents information on the 29 states and 6 union territories of India in a set of 22 volumes. A compilation of the latest facts and figures, ranging from the basic socio-economic and demographic indicators to development parameters, these books also provide brief profiles of the states covering their history, culture, cuisine, handicrafts, places of tourist interest as well as an account of their performance vis- -vis other statesHaryana, a state with impressive growth performance in all sectors, has a higher per capita income than its neighbours. It owes much of its prosperity to the advantage of location it enjoys, being adjacent to Delhi. Since the Green Revolution in India and on account of the crop-diversification strategy started in the last decade, the state has been a major contributor to the agricultural sector of the nation. Haryana is also a major industrial hub, with a wide range of industries including automobiles, textiles, cement, and sanitary ware. It is also a leading exporter of software from India. The low poverty ratio of the state, at around 13 per cent, has been supported by good infrastructure and connectivity throughout the state. Gender bias, however, remains a major concern, with a drastic fall in the sex ratio of the state. Changing the attitude towards women is a significant challenge facing society. Table Of ContentsThe National Picture The State at a Glance State Profile: A Review Tourism Profile Economic Profile in Numbers Social Profile in Numbers District Profile in Numbers Salient FeaturesHaryana has the second highest food yield in the country after Punjab. The state is the largest producer of wheat and the largest exporter of basmati rice. Haryana is one of the most industrially developed states in the country, thanks to its favorable location; one third of its area falls within the National Capital Region. The state has a vibrant services sector which has been enjoying double-digit growth since the 1990s. Economic achievements hide a social problem. Gender disparity is quite stark in the state with a sex ratio of 861 per 1000 live births. While the male literacy rate is 78.5 per cent, for females, the rate is still low at 55.7 per cent, lower than the neighbouring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.