Question

'Hill Area Development Programmes were initiated for the specified areas keeping in view their topographical, ecological, social and economic conditions'. Justify the statement.

Answer 1

1. Hill Area Development programmes were initiated during the Fifth Five-Year Plan.
2. These programmes covered 15 districts comprising all the hilly districts of Uttar Pradesh (present Uttarakhand), Mikir Hills and North Kachar Hills of Assam, Drajeeling district of West Bengal and Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu.
3. The National Committee on the Development of Backward Areas in 1981 recommended that all the hill areas in the country having heights above 600 m and not covered under the tribal sub-plan be treated as backward hill areas.
4. The detailed plans for the development of hill areas were drawn keeping in view their topographical, ecological, social and economic conditions.
5. These programmes aimed at harnessing the indigenous resources of the hill areas through the development of horticulture, plantation agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, forestry and small-scale and village industries.