Dehradun: State Secretary Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, during a press conference at the Media Center Secretariat, informed that the Uttarakhand government had set a target in 2022 to double the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) within the next five years. He stated that in the past 20 months, the state’s GSDP has seen a 1.3 times growth, reflecting the success of the state’s economic policies.
Significant Increase in Per Capita Income
Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram mentioned that in 2021-22, the state’s per capita income was ₹2.05 lakh, which increased to ₹2.60 lakh in 2023-24. Over the past two years, the state’s per capita income has grown by 26%. At the national level, per capita income also rose by 20%, increasing from ₹1,50,906 to ₹1,84,000.
Increased Labor Force Participation, Notable Rise in Women’s Involvement
Speaking about the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), the Secretary stated that the LFPR for the 15-29 age group was 43.7% in 2022-23, which rose to 49% in 2023-24. The state’s Work Population Ratio (WPR) also increased from 37.5% to 44.2%. He emphasized the notable rise in women’s participation, with the WPR for women in the 15-29 age group increasing from 26.1% to 32.4%. Additionally, the growth in women’s participation was attributed to schemes like the Lakhpati Didi initiative and the promotion of women’s self-help groups.
Unemployment Rate Declines, Government Policies Show Impact
The state has also seen a reduction in the unemployment rate. In 2022-23, the unemployment rate stood at 14.2%, which dropped to 9.8% in 2023-24. The Secretary explained that due to the government’s new policies and initiatives promoting employment and self-employment, the unemployment rate has decreased by 4.4%. More job opportunities were made available in sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and government jobs. On this occasion, Director General of Information Mr. Banshidhar Tiwari and CPGG Additional Chief Executive Officer Dr. Manoj Pant were also present.
