Arunachal Pradesh (home page)
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INDIA 2012
A REFERENCE ANNUAL
Compiled by
RESEARCH, REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Arunachal Pradesh
Area : 83,743 sq km Population : 10,97,968 (as per 2001 census); 13.82 lakh (as per prov. census 2011)
Capital : Itanagar
Major Tribes : Monpa, Miji, Aka, Sherdukpen, Nyishi, Apatani, Tagin, Hill Miri, Adi, Digaru- Mismi, Idu-Mishmi, Khamti, Miju- Mishmi, Nocte, Tangsa and Wancho.
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State on 20 February 1987. Till 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). It gained the Union Territory status on 20 January 1972 and renamed as Arunachal Pradesh. On 15 August 1975 an elected Legislative Assembly was constituted and the first Council of Ministers assumed office. The first general election to the Assembly was held in February 1978.
Administratively, the State is divided into sixteen districts. Capital of the State is Itanagar in Papum Para district. Itanagar is named after Ita fort meaning fort of bricks, built in 14th century AD.
Arunachal Pradesh finds mention in the literature of Kalika Purana and Mahabharata. This place is the Prabhu Mountains of the Puranas.
It was here that sage Parashuram atoned for his sin, sage Vyasa meditated, King Bismaka founded his kingdom and Lord Krishna married his Consort Rukmini. The widely scattered archaeological remains at different places in Arunachal Pradesh bear testimony to its rich cultural heritage.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE
Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and mainly depends on jhum cultivation. Encouragement is being given to the cultivation of cash crops like potatoes and horticulture crops like apples, oranges and pineapples.
INDUSTRIES AND MINERALS
For conservation and exploration of the vast minerals the Arunachal Pradesh Mineral Development and Trading Corporation Limited (APMDTCL) was set up in 1991. Namchik-Namphuk coal fields are taken up by APMDTCL. To provide training to craftsmen in different trades there are two Industrial Training Institutes at Roing and Daporijo.
FESTIVALS
Some of the important festivals of the State are: Mopin and Solung of the Adis, Lossar of the Monpas, Boori-boot of the Hill Miris, Sherdukpens, Dree of the Apatanis, Si-Donyi of the Tagins, Reh of the ldu-Mishmis, Nyokum of the Nishis, etc. Animal sacrifice is a common ritual in most festivals.
TOURIST CENTRES
Places of tourist interest are : Tawang, Dirang, Bomdila, Tipi, Itanagar Malinithan, Likabali, Pasighat, Along, Tezu, Miao, Roing, Daporijo Namdapha, Bhismaknagar, Parashuram Kund and Khonsa.
PANCHAYATI RAJ
The Arunachal Pradesh State Election Commission in support of State Government has sucessfully conducted and completed Panchayati Raj Elections in the State in the month of May 2008 for speedy development in the village and grass root level.
GOVERNMENT
Governor : General (Retd.) J.J. Singh Chief Secretary : Shri Tabom Bam Chief Minister : Shri Nobam Tuki
Jurisdiction of High Court: Falls under Guwahati
AREA, POPULATION AND HEADQUARTERS OF DISTRICTS
S .No. District Area (sq km) Population Headquarters
(Census 2001)
1 Tawang 2,172 38,924 Tawang
2. West Kameng 7,422 74,599 Bomdila
3. East Kameng 4,134 57,179 Seppa
4. Papum-Pare 2,875 1,22,003 Yupia
5. Lower Subansiri 10,135 98,244 Ziro and Kurung Kumey
6. Upper Subansiri 7,032 55,346 Daporijo
7. West Siang 8,325 1,03,918 Along
8. East Siang 4,005 89,397 Pasighat
9. Upper Siang 6,188 33,363 Yingkiong
10. Dibang and 13,029 57,720 Anini Lower Dibang Valley
11. Lohit and Anjaw 11,402 1,43,527 Tezu
12. Changlang 4,662 1,25,422 Changlang
13. Tirap 2,362 1,00,326 Khonsa
