Uttarakhand Achieves Impressive GSDP and Employment Growth

Uttarakhand's GSDP has increased 1.3 times in 20 months due to new policies and programs. The state's per capita income rose 26% to Rs 2,60,000 in 2023-24. Employment rates, especially among women, have improved significantly. The unemployment rate dropped from 14.2% to 9.8% in one year.

Uttarakhand's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has surged by 1.3 times over the past 20 months, the state government announced on Wednesday.

Secretary of energy, housing, and planning, R Meenakshi Sundaram, attributed this growth to new policies, amendments in old regulations, and ongoing employment and self-employment programs, during a recent press conference.

The per capita income in Uttarakhand increased from Rs 2,05,000 in 2021-22 to Rs 2,60,000 in 2023-24, a rise of 26%, which surpasses the national average, Sundaram noted. Meanwhile, India's per capita income grew from Rs 1,50,906 to Rs 1,84,000 in the same period, a 20% rise.

The state's labor force participation rate for ages 15 to 29 climbed from 43.7% in 2022-23 to 49% in 2023-24, mirroring the growth in the employment population ratio from 37.5% to 44.2%.

Notably, women's participation in the employment population ratio saw an uptick from 26.1% to 32.4% for ages 15-29, and from 37% to 43.7% for those above 15, thanks to initiatives like the Lakhpati Didi Yojana and women self-help groups.

The state's unemployment rate dropped from 14.2% in 2022-23 to 9.8% in 2023-24, with increased employment in tourism, manufacturing, and government sectors contributing to the decrease.

(With inputs from agencies.)