Economic Growth and Inequality in the Western Indian Himalayan Region

In this study an attempt is made to support the fact that focus on numerical growth is not sufficient unless it is joined with the equality in the quality of human life. This study has been conducted in the Indian Himalayan region. Himalayan region is a hilly and mountainous region. This region is generally considered underdeveloped in the country though rich in life giving resources because of different agro-climatic condition and diverse ecosystems. Due to geographical barriers, remoteness and sparse population, this area reduces its political influence and remains always away from the eyes of policy makers. The technologies that serve other parts of the country become unviable in this region due to its terrain and remoteness. This study is based on firsthand information. Inequality in the consumption expenditure of food, non-food and income has been calculated to provide the factual position of the problem. A sample of 549 households of different categories viz; general category, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe & other backward classes consisting 2,655 persons has been selected by taking into consideration the different social stratification. This study shows that, though, the Himalayan region is developing at a slow pace but inequality is increasing at a higher rate. Results of this study also support the fact that both percentage of poor and incidence of inequality is higher in this region as compared to the national average.