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Sikkim
has been growing at a satisfactory nominal rate of nearly 14.5 per cent
per annum between 1980-81 and 1995-96. Real growth rate during 1980-81
to 1991-92 was impressive at 10 per cent,which is far higher than the all-India
average growth. Nevertheless,the excellent growth performance masks fundamental
problem of unemployment and poverty facing the country today.High growth
should have ideally led to low unemployment and eradication of poverty.But
according to Planning Commission estimates (1994-95), Sikkim ranks fifth
in the country in terms of poverty. It is clear that the benefits of growth
have not percolated down to the people at the lower rungs of the economic
ladder, with almost 38 per cent of the population below the age of 15,
a large number of young people will be joining the labour force in the
near future, which could exacerbate the unemployment problem, unless job
opportunities are created for them.
For at least
65 per cent of the population,agriculture is the main means of livelihood
.However, the stagnant share of agriculture in the state income could compel
people to look for jobs in industry or the services sector. Available evidence
indicates a very limited organised sector in the state.
With liberalisation
of the Indian economy, private investment,both domestic and foreign, has
received a tremendous boost. Sikkim, however, has received neither any major
domestic investment nor any foreign investment.The benefits of economic reforms
sweeping the economy seem to have bypassed Sikkim, notwithstanding its high
growth performance.
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