Maharashtra has a glorious history. It is a holy land of saints, sages and social reformers. Peasants and workers have toiled for centuries to make Maharashtra the Prime State of India. The State is spread over an area of 308,000 square kilometres. It is divided into six administrative divisions and 35 districts. Mumbai, the capital of the State, is also the Financial Capital of India. According to the World Bank Survey, Maharashtra has the most favourable atmosphere among the States in the country, for industrial investment, domestic and foreign. This was endorsed at an Infrastructure Conference held in Mumbai in November 2002 once again. No wonder, Maharashtra has been leading the list of all the States as far as the investment flow is concerned and is poised to guide the country in the infrastructure development sector. To keep up with the modern transformations around the globe, Maharashtra has achieved the leading position amongst all other States in the field of Information Technology and occupies numero-uno position in the country in setting up IT Parks and in adopting a Bio-Tech Policy in a determined bid to compete with other countries of the world. It was in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra that the first cooperative sugar factory in Asia was established. Employment Guarantee Scheme, popularly known as EGS, has been providing employment to the weaker sections of society in times of distress for the past three decades. The genesis of this revolutionary concept can be found in Maharashtra�s rich cultural and social heritage. A similar scheme, launched by the Government of India, is based on EGS. Maharashtra also ushered the road construction industry in India into the 21st century. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is the testimony of this achievement. This is the first superway in the country on which vehicles can ply safely at 100 km and the concept is now replicated all over India. The State has achieved remarkable progress in administrative reforms. The law and order situation in the State is the best in the country. Setting up of maiden Cyber Crime Cell in Western India has added another feather in its cap of police force. Maharashtra has earned the distinction of implementing the Western practice of Tourism Police for the first time in the country. This is the land, which gave birth to father of Indian film industry, Shri Dadasaheb Phalke. Just a few years ago, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar made the whole world sit up and take Maharashtra�s notice by producing PARAM super computer within minimum time and funds. Cricket lovers across the world are mesmerised by the scintillating batting of Sachin Tendulkar, who is a quintessential Mumbai product. Ashutosh Gowarikar, nominated for Oscar by Hollywood, learnt the film craft in Mumbai. Marathi stage and its path-breaking drama production, nearly 500 Diwali Special Numbers to salute Marathi every year and Ganpati festival, the largest public celebration in the world, are only a few distinctive features of the State. Mango, orange, grape or pomegranate produced in the State have been adorning shelves in the department stores across the world for years. Moreover, a food and agro-produce processing industry is developing in various corners of the State now. Maharashtra�s performance in diverse fields like arts, sports, culture, literature, social and administrative reforms as well as academics research, defence and agriculture has left its unique mark in India. Its many great personalities reached the pinnacles of achievements in the respective fields of activity. The social reforms movement in the State began over 150 years ago. It has been the source of inspiration for the country. Maharashtra is known for bravery of its people who blend it with tolerance. The socially amicable atmosphere in Maharashtra surprises people from other states of India for these reasons.
MAHARASHTRA - Facts and Figures
1. Districts : 35 2. Area : 308,000 sq. kms. 3. Sub-Divisions : 109 4. Talukas : 353 5. Municipal Corporations : 19 6. Municipal Councils : 224 7. Zilla Parishads : 33 8. Panchayat Samitis : 349 9. Gram Panchayats : 27832 (Including Nagar Panchayats) 10. Means of Transport : Roads- 2,16,968 kms. NH-3710 SH-32586 Main District Roads-45543 Other Roads -43511 Rural Roads -91618 Railways-5459 kms. Broad gauge -4153 Meter gauge -300 Narrow gauge -806 Ports �50 Main Ports -2 Small Ports -48 Others Post Offices -12788 Rural-11394 Urban-1394 Telephones - 54.58 lakh Internet Connections-3,50,000 (NH= National Highway) (SH= State Highway) 10. Population : Total - 9,67,52,247 (Provisional 2001) Male-5,03,34,270 Female-4,64,17,977 Male-Female Ratio-922 (per thousand) Children (Age 0-6) - 1,31,87,087 Boys- 68,78,579 Girls- 63,08,508 12. Literacy Rate : Per cent-77.3 Total- 6,45,66,781 Male- 3,74,87,129 Female- 2,70,79,652 13. Area under Irrigation : 29.8 lakh hectares 14. Irrigation Projects : Major-31 (as on 30-6-2002) Medium-176 Minor-2150 15. Industries : 33626 (Registered) (2000-2001) 16. Tourist Places : Gateway of India, Juhu Beach, Goregaon Film City, Kanheri Caves, Lonavla and Khandala, Matheran, Shreekshetra Ganpatipule, Sindhudurg and Vijaydurg forts, Trimbkeshwar, Saptashirngi Hill, Jyotirlinga, Palace of Chandbibi (Ahmednagar), Shirdi Saibaba, Mahableshwar and Panchgani, Koynanagar, Pandharpur, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Chikhaldara, Sachkhand Gurudwara at Nanded, Tuljapur, Sahastrakund Waterfalls near Umerkhed, Sewagram, Paunar; Botanical Park and Deekshabhoomi at Nagpur (For details refer District-wise information) 17. Languages/Dialects : Marathi is the principal language of Mahrashtra. In the north-west parts, a mixture of Gujarati and Dangi is spoken. Marathi in north Maharashtra is a mixture of Hindi, Malvi, Bundeli and has some influence of Ahirani. Marathi in south-east and south is influenced by Telugu and Kannada. Of the total population of the State, 73 per cent is Marathi-speaking. Hindi (8 per cent), Urdu (7 per cent) and Gujarati (3 per cent) are the other major languages. 18. Folk-Arts : See District-wise details 19. Weather : Four Seasons Winter-Mid Sept. to Feb. Summer-March to May Monsoon-June to Sept. Post Monsoon-Oct. to Mid Dec. October is very warm. 20. Agriculture Production : Kharif Crops- Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Millet), Rice, Cotton, Groundnuts Rabi Crops - Wheat, Gram, Jowar Cereals - Jowar, Rice, Wheat, Bajra, Maize, Bali, Nachni Pulses �Dal, Tur (Red gram) Cash Crops -Sugarcane, Cotton, Chillies, Tobacco, Banana. Oil seeds- Groundnut, Sesame, Jawas, Karadi, Mustard. 21. Net Crop Area : 17,619,000 hectares Total Crop Area : 22,381,000 hectares Total Irrigated Area : 3,667,000 hectares Ratio of Total Irrigated Area with Crop Area : 16.4 per cent 22. Area under Cereals : 9,411,000 hectares Area under Pulses : 33,88,000 hectares Total Area under Food-grains : 12,798,000 hectares 23. Area under Horticulture : 10.14 lakh hectares (as on 15-11-02) 24. Health Infrastructure : PHCs - 1768 Dispensaries - 1544 Hospitals - 1102 Sub-Centres - 9725 (PHCs=Primary Health Centres) 25. Educational Institutions : Universities - 20 Colleges - 1708 Prim. Schools - 68736 Sec. Schools- 16647 (including Higher Secondary) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUDGET AT A GLANCE Revised Estimates
(Rs. in crores) 2002-03 2003-04 Revenue Receipts 34,182.16 38,293.45 Revenue Expenditure 41,801.76 42,834.55 Revenue Deficit 7,619.60 4,541.10 Capital Receipts 28,291.21 24,073.67 Capital Expenditure 20,769.27 19,627.49 Budgetary Deficit 97.66 94.92 Fiscal Deficit 13,026.88 9,374.47 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |