ECONOMIC SURVEY ASSAM, 1975-76

CHAPTER – X

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

10.1 Railways:—

10.1.1. Railways serves as the main communication link between Assam and the rest of India. At present the State has a railway route length of 2193, 65 kilometres out of which only 105. 22 kilometres are broad gauge. During 1975, Assam accounts for 3.9 per cent of the total railway route length of the country, but in respect of broad gauge line it accounts for a meagre 0.3 per cent of the country’s total broad gauge railway route length. The existing two railway lines which connect the state of Assam with the rest of the country pass through a narrow corridor of 34 miles width in the North Bengal. The position of Assam in the railway map of India during 1974 and 1975 may be observed from the table below —

TABLE – 10.1

RAILWAY ROUTE LENGTH IN ASSAM N.F. RAILWAY AND INDIA
(In kilometre)

10.1.2. – The importance of railway in Assam has been further accentuated by the fact that it also serves as the gateway to its neighbouring States of Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura and the Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram i.e. the whole north-eastern region of the country. During 1974-75, gross earnings of the N.F. Railway accounted to Rs 42.95 crores as against Rs 38.20 crores in 1973-74. With the increase in freight loading, the gross earnings of the N.F. Railway during 1975-76 is expected to be more than Rs 54 crores. The table below shows some general statistics of the N.F. Railway for the year 1973-74 and 1974-75.

TABLE – 10.2

SOME GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE N.F. RAILWAY

10.1.3. A tremendous improvement in the efficiency of railway administration has been noticed during the year 1975-76. The N.F. Railway, which mostly serves the north eastern region, achieved new heights in all fields of activities, particularly in respect of transport facilities. In order to provide more comfortable journey for long distance passengers and expeditious movement of freight traffic to and from Assam (or the region) a number of steps were taken and implemented, some of these are (i) conversion of Tinsukia New Delhi Mail from bi-weekly to a daily service, (ii) dieselisation of Kamrup Express both on the broad gauge and part of metre-gauge sections, (iii) introduction of a bi-weekly Janata Express train between New Bongaigaon and Howrah with effect from March 3, 1976, (iv) introduction of special goods train etc.

10.1.4. Another important step for the improvement of the railway system in Assam is the extension of the broad gauge railway line from Bongaigaon to New Gauhati at a cost of about Rs 25 crores. Work relating to construction of some bridge has already been commenced. The State Government is pressing hard with the central Government for seeting up a Railway divisional Headquarters at Rangiya and the same is stated to be under active consideration. The North Eastern Council has sponsored certain new schemes for extension of railway lines in this region which will connect by rail the hitherto unconnected States of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh etc. The schemes sponsored by the N.E.C. are (i) J Joighopa-Pancharatna Dudhnai line (41 Kms) (ii) Dudhnai Dorrangiri line (69 kms) with a bridge or a ferry across the Brahmaputra river (iii) Pandu-Goalpara line (129 kms) (iv) gauhati Burnihat line (30 Kms), (v) Balipara Bhalukpung line (40 kms) (vi) Tipling Itanagar line (70 kms) and Lalaghat Sairong line in Mizoram (95 kms).

10.2. During 1950-51 the State of Assam (including Meghalaya and Mizoram) had a motorable road length of 9759 kilometres only. By 1970-71, length of roads under P.W.D. in the State (excluding-Meghalaya and Mizoram) rose to a level of 17,030 kilometres. It went up to 19840 kilometres in 1974-75. The table below shows the growth of road lengths in Assam over the past few years:

TABLE – 10.3

LENGTH OF ROADS UNDER P.W.D. IN ASSAM (AS ON 31^ST MARCH)
(In Kms)

10.2.2. A well knit road system in Assam is very vital both from economic and strategic points of view. However, the state is yet to keep pace with the all India norms of road development. The road system in Assam suffers various deficiencies like sub-standard surface, narrow land, weak bridge etc. Moreover, even, now there are thousands of villages not connected with all weather motorable roads. The States Government under the Minimum Needs Programme has contemplated to connect all village with population of 1500 by construction of new roads during the Fifth plan period. The population criterion has been relaxed in respect of areas inhabited by scheduled caste and scheduled tribe, and also in respect of hill areas.

10.2.3. During 1974-75, about 174 kilometres of roads under the Minimum Needs Programme were constructed in the State. The likely achievement under this programme during 1975-76 was expected to be about 87 kilometres. Construction of roads, outside the scheme of Minimum Needs Programme in the state was expected to be about 216 kilometres during 1975-76.

10.3. National Highway —

10.3.1. The length of National Highway in Assam was 1445-70 kilometres as on 31^st March, 1975, out of which 1380.30 kilometres were surfaced and 65.40 kilometres unsurfaced roads. A year ago i.e, on 31^st March, 1974 the length of National Highways in Assam was 1365.27 kilometres.

10.4. Road Transports —

10.4.1. The road transport system plays a key role in the economy of the state. It is greatly felt that its extension to the interior villages of the state needs be given high priority for general development of the backward areas. Both the public sector and private sector organisation are operating transport services in Assam. Under the public sector, there are two corporations operating in the State(i) The Assam & Meghalaya state Road Transport Corporation and (ii) The Central Road Transport Corporation. The Central Road Transport Corporation carries on inter-state operation in goods only between Assam and the rest of India while the Assam and Meghalaya State Road Transport Corporation operates in both goods and passenger traffic on the nationalised routes of the State of Assam and Meghalaya.

10.4.2. During 1950-51 the AMSRTC (then the state Transport Organisation of Assam) covered only 550 kilometres of nationalised routes. The same stood at 3,639 kilometres in 1974-75. During 1975-76, additional 343 kilometres of routes were proposed to be nationalised.

10.4.3. Following the reorganisation of the State in 1972, the AMSRTC (Assam and Meghalyaa State Road Transport Corporation) was bifurcated between the States of Assam and Meghalaya with effect from 1^st July, 1976, Distribution of vehicles and staff between the two states became operative with effect from 1^st August 1976. It was also agreed that both Assam and Meghalaya will ply vehicles on the Gauhati Shillong route.

10.4.4. The private sector road transport system generally connects interior places of the state with the urban centres. There are also numerous private carriage companies which are carrying goods to and from Assam and also between different places of the state. The introduction of National Permit Scheme for efficient road transport services is expected to be much helpful for easier movement of goods traffic between Assam and the rest of the country.

10.4.5. There has been a considerable increase in the number of motor vehicles on road in Assam both in public and private sector, over the past few years. In 1956, the total number of motor vehicles on road in Assam (including Megalyaa and Mizoram) were 16,857. The same rose to 41,300 in 1970 and then to 50,291 in 1974. The last two figures relate to present Assam after reorganisation. The table below shows the trend of growth of numbers of motor vehicles on road in Assam from 1956 to 1974.

TABLE NO. – 104

NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON ROAD IN ASSAM

N.B. – Data upto 1965 includes those of Meghalaya and Mizoram.

10.4.6. The Introduction of National permit Scheme for road transport, at prompt delivery of essential commodities from different producing centres to the different consuming centres of the country. Accordingly, the Government of Assam decided to the issue permits numbering 250 for the State of Assam. At the first instance, 76 permits were issued against 88 number of applications and out of these only 62 have accepted the permits. Arrangements were in progress for issuing the remaining number of permits under this scheme.

10.5. Inland Water Transport —

10.5.1. Assam has about 1,983 Kilometres of navigable waterways The Inland Water transport can serve as a supplement to the disrupted rail and road communication during the rainy seasons. The deadlock in inland water ways caused by the Indo-Pakistani war in 1965 came to an end with the emergence of Bangaldesh in 1972 and since then the water transport system started reviving. At present, two public sector organisations – (i) the State Directorate of Inland Water Transport and (ii) the Central Inland water Transport Corporation a (Govt of India undertaking), are carrying on water transport services on commercial basis in the State. The former carries on water transport services within the state of Assam while the latter operates between Assam and Calcutta via Bangladesh. There are also numerous country boats in the private sector which carry on transportation of goods and passengers, generally f short distance. Due to their unorganised character their assessment with regard to the volume of traffic their carry, is not possible.

10.5.2. During 1975, the quantum of cargo moved by the vessels of the Directorate of Inland water transport was about 10,000 metric tonnes. Data on volume of cargo moved by the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation are not available. During 1975-76 the state Directorate acquired 3 Nos. of Tugs and 4 Nos. of Barges. A workshop was also set up in 1974-75. The Directorate proposed to implement the following centrally sponsored schemes during 1976-77. The schemes are – (i) Criss cross passenger – cum-Cargo service on river Brahmaputra between Dibrugarh and Gauhati. (ii) Criss cross Carge-cum passenger service on river Brahmaputra between Dhubri and Gauhati and (iii) acquisition of two vessels for commercial service on the river Brahmaputra and Kopili from Gauhati to Baghjab.

10.6. Air Transport —

10.6.1. The places served by the Indian Airlines Corporation in the state are – (i) Gauhati (aerodrome at Borjhar), (ii) Tezpur (Salonibari, (iii) Jorhat (Rowriah), (iv) Dibrugarh (Mohanbari), (v) North-Lakhimpur (Lilabari) and (vi) Silchar (Kimbhirgram).

10.7. Postal and Tele-communication Services

10.7.1. There is a considerable increase in post, telegraph are tele-communication services in recent years in this region. Formerly, the whole of the North Eastern Region was served by the North Eastern Circle under a Post Master General with headquarters at Shillong. In September, 1974, the North Eastern Circle was bifurcated into two separate organisations, namely, the North Eastern Tele-communications circle and the North Eastern Postal Circle. The former locks after the tele-communication services of this region while the later looks after the postal services.

10.7.2. In 1965-66, the total number of post offices in this region was 2,787. This increased to 3,386 in 1970-71 and further to 3,812 in 1975-76. This following table shows the growth of postal facilities in this region over the past few years.

TABLE – 10.5

NUMBER OF POST OFFICES UNDER THE NORTH EASTERN POSTAL CIRCLE

10.7.3. In respect of tele-communication services also, considerable improvement has been noticed. At the beginning of the First Five Year Plan, the whole of the North Eastern Region had only 13 telephone exchanges. The same stands at 192 in December 1976, out of which 132 exchanges are located within the geographical areas of present Assam. Most of the important towns of the state have been brought on micro-wave extended to more and more towns of the State. Introduction of demand trunk facilities between Gauhati and Calcutta and between Gauhati and places like Dibrugarh, Jorhat, tezpur and Silchar has proved to be very useful. There is only one Teleprinter Exchange (Telex) in the state, located at Gauhati, with 100 lines. Another Telex exchange at Dibrugarh is going to be Started shortly. Further, two more post and telegraph divisions one each at Silchar and Tezpur, are also going to be created in the State.

CHAPTER – XI

POWER

11.1. Assam is very backward in the field of generation and use of power. Per cepita consumption of electricity in Assam is one of the lowest in India. During 1974-75, per capita consumption of electricity in the State was only 28 K..W.H. which was much lower than the national average of 99 K..W.H. during the same year.

11.2. The responsibility for co-ordinated development of generation, transmission and distribution of power in the state lies with the Assam State Electricity board constituted in the year 1958. The Board was bifurcated in January, 1975, between the States of Assam and Meghalaya as per provision made in the North Eastern Areas (reorganisation) act. 1971. As a result, the two hydroelectric projects under the Board stood transferred to Meghalyaa due to their location within that State. Consequently, power generation in the reconstituted Assam came down considerably. However, power supply from these sources continued to be made for the consumers in Assam without any break or restriction. AT present there are only two major generation stations in the State. These are — (i) Chandrapur Thermal Power Station with in installed capacity of 30 MW and (ii) Namrup Thermal Power Station with an installed capacity of 69 M.W. In addition there are few isolated diesel generating stations but their capacity is rather insignificant.

11.3. Power generation in Assam (including Meghalaya and Mizoram) during 1970-71 was of the order of 359.5 million K.W.H. which increased to 564.5 million K.W.H. during 1974-75 Separate figure of power generation in the reconstituted Assam is available only for the year 1975-76 which stood at 449.37 million K.W.H. The table below shows the generation of power in Assam from different sources over the past few years.

TABLE – ``.`

GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY IN ASSAM
(Unit in million KWH)

11.4. Over the past few years consumption pattern of power in the state had undergone some important changes. Power is now being consumed more and more by industries, tea garden etc. The industrial consumption of power (low, medium and high voltage) in the state which was 154.46 million K.W.H. in 1975-76. Thus, total consumption of power in the state stood at 469.91 million K.W.H. in 1975-76 as against 288.45 million K.W.H. in 1970-71 (including Meghalaya & Mizoram). The following table shows the consumption of electricity in Assam for the period from 1970-71 to 1974-75.

TABLE – 11.2

CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY IN ASSAM INCLUDING (MEGHALAYA & MIZORAM)
(In million K.W.H.)

11.5. It has been mentioned earlier that power generation within the State has come down to a much lower level due to bifurcation of the State Electricity Board between Assam and Meghalaya. If adequate attention is not paid to power development programmes in the State, there is likely-hood of considerable power shortage in the state by the end of the Fifth Plan in view of the likely rise in the demand for power in near future as a result of the development schemes that are being initiated. In order to meet this anticipated shortage of power a number of projects have been taken up in hand. The 20 point Economic programme, also laid emphasis on accelerated power programme which implies optimising generation from the existing power stations and expeditious commissioning of new power projects.

11.6. As far as new power generation projects are concerned mention may be made of the following :— (i) Namrup Thermal Power Station, 1^st extension (30M.W.) 2^nd extension (30 M.W.), (ii) Namrup Gas Turbine set (12.5 M.W.), (iii) Bongaigaon Thermal power station (120 M.W.), (iv) Kopili Hydro Electric Project, (v) Chandrapur Thermal Power Station (240 M.W.), (vii) Lakwa Gas Turbine Station (45 M.W.) and (viii) Lower Borpani (Kamrup) Hydel Project. The 1^st Extension work of Namrup Thermal Power Station is almost completed and will be commissioned very soon. The Namrup Gas Turbine set (12.5 M.W.) has also recently been commissioned. The work on Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station with an installed capacity of 120 M.W. has recently been started. On April 25, 1976, Prime Minister Srimati Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the Kopili Hydro Electric project which will be executed by the North Eastern regional Power Corporation Limited, recently formed, for power development in this region. It is expected that Assam’s requirement of power will be met to a great extent after completion of the above projects.

11.7. Along side the generation schemes, the Assam state Electricity board has also taken up construction of net work of a transmission and distribution lines for transmission of power to the load centres. The new transmission lines that are being constructed in the state are (i) 220 KV Samsguti Mariani Line, (ii) 132 KV Bongaigaon-Jogighopa Line, (iii) 33 KV Single circuit Line to fertiliser corporation of India and (iv) 33 KV sub-Transmission and distribution lines. There are also proposals for construction of (i) 132 KV Namrup-Mariani Line via Lakwa and (ii) 220 KV D/C line from Bongaigaon to Chandrapur via South bank of Goalpara and Kamrup districts.

11.8. Rural Electrification:—

11.8.1. Electricity can play a very important role in bringing about changes in the economy of the rural areas. But, in Assam, the pace of rural electrification had been rather dhow. Upto 31^st March, 1975, only 1516 villages. Out of a total of 21, 993 villages of the state, have been electrified. Thus, electrified villages comprised only 6.9 per cent of the total villages of the State.

11.8.2. During the Fifth Plan Period, additional 7000 villages have been proposed to be electrified besides energisation of 15,000 irrigation pumpsets during the same period.

CHAPTER – XII

INDUSTRY AND MINING

12.1. The State of Assam, inspite of being endowed with rich natural resources, is industrially backward compared with many other States as well as the country as a whole. It has however, been gradually progressing towards industrial development as a result of the Government’s serious efforts to that end. In the past few years, a number of large, medium and small-scale industries both in the public and private sectors, were either newly established or developed in the state. Through provision of more and more infrastructural facilities as well as Government patronage, a more favourable climate for industries is being created in the State.

12.2. Some of the important industries which have recently been commissioned in the State are — (i) The Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. At Namrup, (ii) The Ashok Paper Mills Ltd at Jogighopa, (iii) The Rs 72 crores first expansion project of Namrup unit of the Fertilizer Corporation of India, (iv) The Khandsari Sugar Mill at Manja in the district of Karbi Anglong, and (v) The Bokajan Cement Factory. Besides, some other important industries mostly in the public and co-operative sectors, are in the process of installation in the state, of which mention may be made of the following : (i) The Bongaigaon Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex, (ii) Caustic Soda and Chlorihe Plant at Jogighopa, (iii) Cachar Sugar Mills Ltd, at Chargola, (iv) Mangaldoi Jute Mills Ltd. At Dalgaon (v) Industrial Papers (Assam) Ltd at Dhing, (vi) Nowgong co-operative Sugar Mills Ltd at Kamrup (vii) Two more paper mills under the Hindustan Paper Corporation – one at Jagiroad and the other at Badarpur etc. The Bongaigaon Refinery-cum-petrochemical Complex, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of the year 1977, is expected to be a land mark in the industrial development of the state.

12.3. Over and above the above noted industries a few more notable industrial units which are going to be set up in the state in the near future are — (i) Lime Plant at Garampian, N.C. Hills (ii) Alum Plant at Namrup (iii) Cement Plant at Garampani (iv) Sugar Plants at Goipani (Dibrugarh district) and Borbori (Kamrup district) (v) Fruit Preservation unit at Bao-Haflong, N.C. Hills (vi) Citronella cultivation cum-distillation unit at Garampani and (vii) a jute mill near Barpeta, The Assam Industrial development Corporation Ltd a State Government undertaking, is playing a pioneering role in this regard.

12.4. Index of Industrial Production – Based on 25 items of products representing 13 industry groups at 3 digit level of the National Industrial classification (NIC) 1970 a provisional series of index of industrial production with base 1970=100 has been prepared for Assam by the state Directorate of Economics & Statistics. These 13 industrial groups accounted for 81.9 per cent of the value added by manufacture in the registered factory sector in 1970. The Index Number of industrial production worked out under this series reveal that industrial production in the state during 1975 was marginally lower by 0.9 per cent over that in the previous year i.e. 1974. The index which was 103.57 in 1971 rose to 118.92 in 1974, but fell to 117.88 in 1975. The fall was particularly marked in the case of sawing and planning of wood (other than plywood), manufacture of jute textiles, manufacture of products of petroleum not elsewhere classified, manufacture of matches and aluminium manufacturing.

12.4.1. The table below shows the Index Number of Industrial production of the state for the period form 1971 to 1975.

TABLE – 12.1

INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN ASSAM (PROVISIONAL)
(Base 1970=100)

12.5. Registered Factories:—

12.5.1. The number of registered factories in Assam increased from 1,604 in 1970 to 1,677 in 1974 and further to 1,715 in 1975. Similarly, average number of workers employed in these factories increased from 75,688 in 1970 to 78,336 in 1974 and then to 79,780 in 1975. The table below shows the number of registered factories with their workers in different districts of the state for the years 1974 and 1975.

TABLE – 12.2

NUMBER REGISTERED FACTORIES AND THEIR WORKERS IN ASSAM

12.5.2. It will be seen from the table above that the district of Dibrugarh has the largest number of factories (426) followed by Sibsagar District (324) owing mainly to location of a large number of factories there. The district of Kamrup with 294 factories most of which are non-tea factories, occupies the third position.

12.6. Annual Survey of Industries:—

12.6.1. The Annual Survey of Industries conducted jointly by the National Sample survey Organisation of the Government of India and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Assam covers all factories registered under the factories Act 1948. According to the Survey, the Number of registered factories which was 1,536 in 1969 rose to 1,592 in 1970. Number of workers also increased from 67 thousand in 1969 to 69 thousand in 1970. Value added by manufacture rose to Rs 4549 lakhs in 1970 from Rs 3853 lakhs in 1969. The following table presents some statistics relating to the survey in Assam for the years 1969 and 1970.

TABLE – 12.3

ANNUAL SURVEY OF INDUSTRIES IN ASSAM (SURVEY RESULTS)

12.6.2. In spite of various constrains, Assam has made a slow but steady progress in respect of production of certain industries like coal, plywood, jute, textiles, sugar, fertilizer etc. over the past few years as evidenced from available data. The trends of production of certain selected industries in Assam for the past few years may be observed from the table given below:—

TABLE – 12.4

PRODUCTION OF SILECTED INDUSTRIES IN ASSAM

* Includes commercial, decorative, black board, flush, doors and tea chest plywood.

(a) Figures upto 1974 includes those of Meghalaya and Mizoram

(b) Relates to financial year 1975-76.

12.7. Tea Industry —

12.7.1. The tea industry plays a pivotal role in the economy of Assam and is a major foreign exchange earner of the country. The industry, being labour intensive provides employment to about 4 lakh persons. In 1973, the state had 751 tea gardens as against 13,117 for the country as a whole. Area under tea during the same period stood at 1.86 lakh hectares for the state and 3.61 lakh hectares for the country as a whole. Thus, it will be seen that Assam accounts for more than half of the countries total number of tea gardens and area under tea. In respect of production of tea also Assam accounts for about 55 per cent of the total tea production of the country. During 1975, production of tea in the state was of the order of 263.1 million kilogram as against the countrys production of 48.66 million kilogram. The production however, fell by 0.9 per cent in Assam and 0.7 per cent in the country as a whole over the previous year i.e. 1974 due to drought conditions which hit most of the tea growing areas, Another important feature was that the rate of average yield per hectare in Assam which was 1,353 kilogram in 1973, was higher than the national average yield rate of 1,309 kilogram per hectare.

12.7.2. The Gauhati tea Auction centre, which was commissioned in September, 1970 at the initiative of the state Government, showed satisfactory progress in its sales performance. The centre sold a total of 28.31 million kg of tea during the season 1975-76 as against 26.63 million kg in the previous season. The price fetched by tea sold also registered an encouraging increase. The average price per kilogram of tea sold in 1975-76 season was Rs 9.84 as against Rs 8.88 in the last season. The table below shows the performance of the over the past few years.

TABLE – 12.5

SALE OF TEA AT THE GAUHATI TEA AUCTION CENTRE

12.8. Small Industries —

12.8.1. The importance of the role of small industries in a backward State like Assam cannot be over stressed. The state offers ample seope for the development of small industries which will not only mobilise local resources but will also increase income and generate employment opportunities.

12.8.2. For the promotion and development of small industries in the state, various measures are being undertaken. Establishment of industrial estates and growth centres are two important steps in that direction. The industrial estates provide factory sheds with facilities like water supply, power supply, drainage and sanitary facilities, approach road, bank, post office etc. making it easier for the entrepreneurs to set up their industry. At present, there are 8 industrial estates in the state located in the following places: Gauhati, Tinsukia, Dhekiajuli, Nalbari, Badarpur, Nowgong, Jorhat and Sibsagar. All these industrial estates taken together provide factory sheds numbering 210 out of which only 69 units are working. Another estate is being set up by the Directorate of Industries at Bongaigaon. The Assam Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd has also taken up a programme for setting up mini industrial estates with small sheds in places having commercial importance or growth potential. Two such mini industrial estates, one at North Lakhimpur and the other at Sibsagar have already been set up.

12.8.3. A number of growth centres are also being developed in the State. The main object of this scheme is to reduce or eliminate the time lag between the date of completion of the factory shed and coming up of an industrial unit. Through this scheme, necessary infrastructural facilities like road, power, water etc. are provided Gauhati has one such centre Steps being taken for development of growth centres in places like Barpeta, Mangaldai and Golaghat.

12.8.4. Various organisations, such as Assam Small Industries Development Corporation, Directorate of Industries of the State Government Small Industries Service Institute, The Assam Government Marketing corporation and Assam Khadi & Village Industries in the state Facilities like supply of machineries on hire purchase scheme, training facilities, procurement and distribution of raw materials, marketing facilities, consultancy services etc are being offered by these organisations besides preparation of feasibility reports of probable industries that may be set up in the sate.

12.9. Sericulture and weaving

12.9.1. Sericulture and Weaving play an important role in Assam particularly in the economy of the rural areas. As it is a production and employment oriented industry, it can reshape the rural economy to a great extent. The State Government is taking this opportunity through the establishment of a number of eri-seed grainages, eri-concentration centres, sericultural farms, tassar farms, mulbearry silk farms, muga-food plantation centres, etc. in different parts of the State. The North Eastern Council has also taken up a programme for sericultural development in the region including Assam.

12.9.2. The handloom industry of Assam is famous for its quality and originality. It is estimated that there are about 5.5 lakh of handloom (outside cooperative fold) in the state which provide part-time and whole time employment to nearly 6 lakhs of people. In the cooperative sector, there are 1429 handloom cooperative societies covering a weaver population of 84,000. The development of handloom has been greatly emphasised under the 20-point Economic programme. In the wake of this, various schemes, for increasing production and employment have been formulated by the State Government. The schemes envisages modernisation, of handloom, organisation of training, supply of yarn at subsidized rates, centralized dyeing and processing facilities marketing arrangements etc. Another massive handloom programme with special emphasis towards employment of women is under preparation. Under this programme, Mini estates of weavers is sought to be established with 25 lonms in each Estate where help, inputs, technical guidance, finance, designs etc. will be provided.

12.9.3. During 1975-76, a total of 0. 20 lakhs kilogram of mulberry silk, 1.83 lakh kilogram of eri-cut cocoons, 0.83 lakh kilogram of muga raw silk, and 5 lakh metres of handloom fabrics were anticipated to have been produced in the state (outside cooperative fold). In the cooperative fold, production of handloom cloth in 1975-76 was expected to be 7.2 lakh metres. Production of powerloom cloth was also expected to be of the order of 11.5 lakh metres during the same year. In Assam, the organisations which are connected with the development of sericulture and weaving in the State are: The Directorate of sericulture and weaving. The Assam Khadi and village Industries Board and the Assam Government Marketing Corporation.

12.10. Mining —

12.10.1. Petroleum, natural gas, coal and limestone are the important minerals found in the State. A number of organisations like (i) Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ii) Oil India Ltd (iii) Geological Survey of India, (iv) State Directorate of Geology and Mining and (v) The Assam and Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation are engaged in exploring the mineral wealth of the State.

12.10.2. Assam possesses one of the oldest oil fields in the world. At present Assam produces about 50 per cent of the total crude oil production in the country. The production of crude oil production in the country. The production of crude oil in the State which was 3,594 thousand tonnes in 1973, increased to 3,735 thousand tonnes in 1974. The production further increased to 4,187 thousand tonnes in 1975 due to intensive exploration conducted on priority basis. At present, two refineries are operating in the Sttae – one at Digboi and the other at Gauhati Another refinery at Bongaigaon is under construction which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 1977. In order to facilitate the supply of one million tonne of crude oil to the Bongaigaon Refinery, the 600 km. Pipeline of the Oil India Limited from Naharkatiya to Bongaigaon is being down.

12.10.3. The volume of output of the two refineries of the State for the past few years may be observed from the table given below:—

TABLE – 12.6

VOLUME OF REFINERY PRODUCTS IN ASSAM
In ‘000’ tonnes

12.10.4. The production of natural gas in the State, which was 171 million cubic metres in 1961, rose to the level of 539 million cubic metres in 1974 and further to 622 million cubic metres in 1975. In the case of coal, the production increased from 507 thousand tonnes in 1974 to 582 thousand tonnes in 1975. An idea about the production trend of natural gas and coal in Assam may be had from the table shown below.

TABLE – 12.7

PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS AND COAL IN ASSAM

*Relates to gas utilized.
Sources:— (i) Bulletin of Mineral statistics and Information, (ii) Deputy Assistant Controller of Coal, Gauhati.

12.10.5. Limestone deposit is mainly concentrate in the Karbi Anglong District. Based on the limestone deposit in that district, the cement corporation of India has constructed a cement factory at Bokajan which has already been commissioned. The Directorate of Geology and Mining of the State Govt. has taken up systematic survey in different parts of the state for location of minerals like glass-sand, kaolin, base mental, cement and chemical grade limestone in the Karbi Anglong District, miea in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts and coal and limes stones in Cachar District.

CHAPTER – XIII

EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES

13.1. Census of Assam Government Employees:

13.1.1. The numbers of Assam Government employees as on 31^st March, 1975 was 95.31 thousand as against 93.35 thousand in the year 1973 and 79.88 thousand in 1971.

13.1.2. The following table shows the number of Assam Government employees according to status as on 31^st March of the years 1971, 1973 and 1975.

TABLE – 13.1

ASSAM GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO STATUS (AS ON 31^ST MARCH OF THE YEAR)

13.1.3. The Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes (Plains) and Scheduled Tribes (Hills) employees under the Government of Assam constituted 6.3 per cent, 5.4 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively of the total employees as on 31^st March, 1973. The woman employees on the same date constituted 4.2 per cent of the total employees as against 4.5 per cent in 31^st March, 1971. Data for these categories of employees for the year 1975 are not yet available.

13.1.4. The table below shows the classification of certain special categories of Assam Government employees according to their states during 1971 and 1973.

TABLE NO. – 13.2

SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF ASSAM GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ACCORDING TO STATUS

13.2. Public Sector Employment –

13.2.1. Public sector employment in Assam which was 263.38 thousand in March 1974, increased to 265.88 thousand in March 1975 and further to 280.24 thousand in March 1976. Thus, employment under this sector registered a 5.4 per cent rise in March 1976 over that in the previous year. The following table shows the number of persons employed in different wings of the public sector in Assam.

TABLE – 13.3

PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT IN ASSAM
( Figure in thousand )

13.3. Private Sector Employment:—

13.3.1 Employment in the private sector establishments in Assam also increased by 1.1 per cent in the quarter ending March 1976, over that in March 1975. The employment in this sector was estimated at 482.75 thousand persons in March 1976 as against 477.57 thousand persons in March 1975.

13.4. Employment in registered factories:—

13.4.1. Employment position in the factories registered under the factories Act, in Assam indicates improvement over the past few years. The average number of workers employed daily in these factories increased from 75.7 thousand in 1970 to 78.3 thousand in 1974 and then to 79.8 thousand in 1975. Districtwise in 1975, Dibrugarh had the highest number of factory workers (29,677 ) followed by Sibsagar (15,899) and Darrang (10,161), The number of factory workers in these districts are high because of the location of a large number of tea factories in these districts, are high because of the location of a large number of tea factories in these districts.

13.5. Employment Situation:—

13.5.1. The Employment situation in Assam continued to be critical year after year. It has been estimated that the magnitude of unemployment in Assam at present would be of the order of 15.5 lakhs out of which about 11.5 lakhs or about 74 per cent are in the rural areas alone. The information made available by the Live Register of employment exchanges also reveals that the total number of applicants in Assam rose from 1,39,180 in 1974 to 1,89,045 in 1975 and 1,91,118 in March, 1976. During 1975, altogether 1,34,602 persons registered their names in the employment exchanges as against 92,490 persons in 1974 the figure stood at 26,226 persons during the period from January to March, 1976. The number of registration and their placement through employment exchanges for the past few years are given in the table below:—

TABLE – 13.4

NUMBER OF REGISTRATION AND PLACEMENT THROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN ASSAM

13.5.2. It is a matter of great concern that the number of educated employment seekers in the state continued to rise at a very fast rate. The information made available by the Employment Exchanges reveals that the number of educated employment seekers in the live Register increased from 44,371 in 1973 to 54,920 to 1974 and further to 85,365 in 1975. This has been particularly attributed to a sizable increase in the number of matriculate, graduate and under-graduate applicants. The matriculate applicants alone constituted 63.2 per cent of the total educated job seekers in the State in 1975.

13.5.3. The number of educated job-seekers in the Live Register for the year 1974 and 1975 are furnished in the following table.

TABLE – 13.5

THE NUMER OF EDUCATED JOB SEEKERS IN THE LIVE REGISTER OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN ASSAM

13.5.4. The table below shows the number of applicants belonging to a few special categories on the Live Register of Employment Exchanges:—

TABLE – 13.6

THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS BELONGING TO A FEW SPECIAL CATEGORIES ON THE LIVE REGISTER

13.5.5. The problem of unemployment in Assam is complicated by the faster growth of labour force in a relatively backward and stagnant economy where employment opportunities, generated by development schemes are limited. The position of unemployment is further made critical as a result of the increased output of educational institutions during the past few years. During 1975, altogether 15,169 vacancies were notified in the state out of which 7,538 vacancies were filled up as reported by the Directorate of Employment and craftsmen Training Assam. The vacancies notified and filled up during 1974 were 12,239 and 6,466 respectively.

13.5.6. The Fifth Five Year Plan has laid special emphasis on generation of employment opportunities in the State. It has been estimated that by the end of the Fifth Plan employment potential for about 8.85 lakh persons will be generated in the state.

13.5.7. The employment exchanges located in various towns of the State are engaged in offering employment services to the needy people. At present, there are 29 Employment Exchanges, 3 University Employment Information and Guidance Bureau and 18 Employment Information and Assistance Bureau in the State. A few more Employment Exchanges and Employment Information and Assistance Bureau were proposed to be set up in different places of the State during 1975-76 and 1976-77.

13.6. Apprenticeship Training

13.6.1. Under the Apprenticeship Training Programme, which falls under the purview of the 20 point Economic Programme, a new drive to enlarge training faculties in different public and private sector establishment in the state has been started. At the end of 1975, the State had 1231 establishment that came under the purview of Apprentifacilities. Altogether, 1280 Apprentices were engaged up to the end of December 1975. The number of apprentices undergoing training in the current year stands at 709.

13.7. Industrial dispute

13.7.1. Industrial relation in Assam 1975 was generally peaceful. The number of industrial disputes occurred in the state in 1975 were 4 as against 6 in the previous yeaer Altogether 85,653 mandays lost were reported in 1975 as against 13,695 in 1974. The all-India figures of number of industrial disputes and Mondays lost in 1975 (provisional) were 1,565 and 19.25 lakh respectively.

13.7.2. The table below shows the trend in industrial relation in Assam for the past few years.

TABLE – 13.7

INDUSTRIAL RELATION IN ASSAM

13.8. Minimum Wages —

13.8.1. The minimum wages act was first introduced in the State in the year 1952 with a view to providing economic justice to the working class people. The Act covers workers in tea plantation, motor transport, rice and flour mills. The Act was extended to cover agricultural labourer, workers under the P.W.D. (road construction, building construction, stone breaking and stone crushing) and under local authorities between 1953-59.

13.8.2. In the subsequent years, minimum rates of wages were revised for different categories of workers. The minimum wages of bidi workers, which was formerly Rs 2.75 for rolling 1000 bidis, was revised to be within the range of Rs 4,50-5.00 for rolling 1000 bidies with effect from 1^st May 1975. Similarly wages of daily rate Tea workers were also revised with effect from 7^th February 1976. The adult workers would get an increase of 40 paise of their wages while the increase for the child workers would be 20 paise This would benefit about 4.5 lakh tea garden workers of the State.

13.8.3. In the wake of announcement of the 20 point Economic Programme, the State Government revised the minimum rate of wages for agricultural workers in the state. Under this revision, the minimum daily wage of Rs 5.00 has been fixed for all operations connected with paddy cultivation except transplanting harvesting, carrying and thrashing. For transplating, harvesting and thrashing operations, the minimum wages has been fixed at Rs 6.00. The wage rate for engineering workers in Assam has also been enhanced by Rs 15.00 per month with effect from 1^st April, 1976. The revision covers all workers in engineering establishments registered under the Factories Act and employing not less than 15 workers in the State.

13.8.4. The rate of minimum wages for workers in rice and oil mills in the State was also proposed to be revised by the State Government. The proposal envisaged daily wage rate of a skilled workers at Rs 8.00 in urban and Rs 7.00 in rural areas while the same for an unskilled worker would be 6.00 and Rs 5.00 in urgan and rural areas respectively.

13.8.5. Average daily wage rate in rural areas of Assam, infect of certain category of workers may be seen in the table given below.

TABLE – 13.8.

AVERAGE DAILY WAGE RATE (RUPEES)

13.8.6. According to information made available by the Labour Bureau of the Government of India, the wages for the lowest daily paid unskilled male workers in Assam varies within the range from Rs 1.54 to Rs 6.00 as on 30^th September, 1975. The same category of workers under the Central Government receive wages within the range from Rs 3.50 to Rs 5.15 on the same date.

CHAPTER – XIV

PRICES AND COST OF LIVING

14.1. Prior to 1975-76 a continuous upward rise in price level gripped the entire Nation resulting in utmost sufferings of the common people. The year 1975-76 witnessed an opposite but pleasant picture in that regard Price rise was not only checked but also reversed as a result of bold anti-inflationary measures adopted by the Government. Naturally, this all-India phenomenon of favourable price situation in 1975-76 had its reflection on the price situation of Assam too.

14.2. Index Number of wholesale prices

The abnormal increase in price level, particularly in the prices of food articles, pushed up the general index of wholesale prices in Assam (base 1953-100) from 291.1 in 1973 to 376.6 in 1974 or by 29.4 per cent. In 1975, the index rose moderately to reach the level of 382.9 indicating a mere 1.67 per cent rise over the previous year which was almost equal to the all-India rise of 1.71 per cent over the same period. But, although the index was higher in 1975 than that in 1974, in March, 1976 it was 12.1 per cent lower than that of the same month in the previous year i.e. the index fell from 371.9 in March 1975 to 331.8 in March 1976. It may be noted here that during this period i.e. between March 1975 and March, 1976 the index for food articles registered a fall of 17.4 per cent whereas in the case of non-food articles there was a slight rise of 0.6 per cent.

14.2.1. The movement of index number of wholesale prices in Assam in the past few years and monthly indices from March 1975 to March, 1976 are shown in the table below —

TABLE – 14.1

INDEX NUMBER OF WHOLESALE PRICES IN ASSAM (BASE 1953-100)

14.2.2. It will be observed from the table above that the general index since the beginning of the month of March 1975 continued to rise steadily till the month of June, 1975, after which it started to decline rapidly. This declining trend continued upto the month of January 1976. It February, 1976, the index rose marginally but in March, 1976 it again registered a fall due to fall in the prices of food articles. During the year 1975, prices of food articles registered a 2.7 per cent increase over the year 1974 but in respect of non-food there was a fall of 1.1 per cent over the period. If a comparison is made between the prices prevalent in the month of March, 1975 and March, 1976. It will be seen that among all the articles of edible oils registered the highest fall (-21.3 per cent).

14.2.3. The percentage variation of index number of wholesale prices (both food and non-food articles) in Assam for the last few years are shown below —

TABLE – 14.2.

PERCENTAGE VARIATION OF WHOLESALE PRICE INDICES (BASE 1953-100) OVER THE PRECEDING YEAR.

14.3. Consumer price Index Number for working class —

The Consumer Price Index Number for working class compiled by the Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Assam covers three Centres, viz, Gauhati, Silchar and Tinsukia. On the basis of the indices for the above mentioned three centres, an all Assam average is worked out to show the general trend of the cost of living of the working class for the State as a whole.

14.3.1. The annual average consumer price index number for working class in the State, which was 111 in 1960, rose to 230 in 1970 and further to 368 in 1974. During 1975 the index rose to the point of 386 registering a 4.9 per cent increase over the previous year. The index in March, 1976 stood at 327, Thus, the index in March 1976 was 19.6 per cent lower over the index in March, 1975 (391 point) thereby signifying a better cost of living condition of the working class.

14.3.2. The table below shows the consumer price index number or working class for the three centres of the State as well as the state average.

TABLE – 14.3

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUBMER FOR WORKING CLASS IN ASSAM
(Base 1949-100)

14.4. Consumer Price Index Number for Non-Manual Employees:— The Consumer Price Index Number for Non-Manual Employees for a number of urban centres in the country is compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation of the Government of India. In Assam, Gauhati is the only centre covered by this index number series. The consumer price index number for non-manual employees of Gauhati, which was 167 in 1970, increased to 249 in 1974. It further went upto the point of 267 in 1975 indicating a 7.2 per cent increase over the previous year; the core sponding increase was 7.7 per cent for the country as a whole. During March, 1976 the index for the Gauhati Centre stood at 254 as against 264 in the month of March 1975, thereby registering a fall of 3.9 per cent in the index. The fall was also noticeable in case of all India index, from 277 in March, 1975 it came down to 265 in March, 1976 i.e. by 4.5 per cent.

14.4.1. the movement of the consumer price index number for non-manual employees for the Gauhati centre in comparison with that for the country as a whole is furnished in the table below:—

TABLE – 13.4.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES (BASE 1960-100)

14.5. Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers:— The Labour Bureau of the Government of INdia compiles the consumer price index number for industrial workers in selected centres of the country including Assam. The selected centres in Assam are – Digboi, Mariani, Doom Dooma, Lahae and Rangapara. The table below shows the trend in the indices for the selected centres in Assam and also for the country as a whole over the past few years.

TABLE – 14.5

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS (CENTRAL INDEX) (BASE 1960-100)

14.6. Consumer Price Index Number for Rural Population:— The Consumer Prime Index Number for the Rural Population in Assam prepared by the State Directorate of Economics and Statistics reflects the trend in cost of living of the rural population in the plains districts of Assam. The Index, which was 356 in 1973, rose by 26.7 per cent to reach 451 in 1974. The index further rose to the point of 246 in 1975 indicating a moderate increase of 4.0 per cent over the previous year. However, the index in the month of March 1976 was lower by 9.3 per cent than the index in the same month of the previous year i.e. the index fell from 480 in March 1975 to 439 in March 1976. The table shows the index for the past few years.

TABLE – 14.6

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR RURAL POPULATION IN ASSAM (BASE 1944-100)