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Women in India

Name of the State

Description

  Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh, second biggest state in the country, is bounded by, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Agriculture is the mainstay of state’s economy and 74.73% of the people are rural. As much as 49 per cent of the land area is cultivable.  The state has several high-tech industries such as electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, etc.  Optical fibers for telecommunication needs and automobile industries are major areas.  Public sector units in the state are Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. at Bhopal, Security Paper Mill at Hoshangabad, Bank Note Press at Dewas, Newsprint Factory at Nepanagar and Alkaloid Factory at Neemuch.  Govt. of India has proposed setting up of a Special Economic Zone at Indore.

The State is a leader in mineral production, traditional handicrafts, and handloom cloths.  It is rich in low-grade coal suitable for power generation and also has immense potential of hydro-energy.

Panchmarhi, the hill station, Dhuandhar Fall at Bhedaghat, Kanha National Park near Jabalpur are some of the major tourist attractions of the state.  Gwalior, Mandu, Datia, Chanderi, Jabalpur, Orchha, Raisen, Sanchi, Vidisha, Udaygiri, Bhimbetika, Indore and Bhopal are the places well-known for their historical monuments. Maheswar, Omkareshwar, Ujjain, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak are major centers of pilgrimage.  Unique temples of Khajuraho are famous all over the world.  The temples of a Orccha, Bhojpur and Udaypur attract large number of tourists as well as pilgrims. Archaelogical treasures are preserved in the museums at Satna, Sanchi, Vidisha, Gwalior, Indore, Mandasure, Ujjain, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Rewa.
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  Maharashtra

Maharashtra is the third largest state of India in area and second largest in population.  The state is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, Gujarat in the north west, Madhya Pradesh in the north and the east, Andhra Pradesh in the south east and Karnataka Goa in the south.

The State of Maharashtra forms a huge irregular triangle with its base on the west coast of India, overlooking the Arabian Sea. The coastal strip, about 720 km long and not more than 80km wide, is the Konkan, dotted with paddy fields and coconut gardens.  The Sahyadris or the Western Ghats running almost parallel to the sea coast flank the Konkan on its east.  To the east of the Sahyadris stretches a vast plateau forming the apex of the triangle.

About 65 per cent of the people depend on agriculture and allied activities.  Alphonso mangoes, Thomson seedless grapes, Cavendish bananas and soft seeded pomegranates are the state’s produce.  Cash crops include cotton, sugarcane, groundnut and tobacco.

The state accounts for 23% of the value of India’s industrial output.  Major industries are chemicals and allied products, textiles, electrical and non-electrical machinery, petroleum and allied products, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, machine tools, plastic ware, steel and iron castings.  Santa Cruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) is a free trade zone.  India’s first gold refinery is at Shirpur.  The development of offshore oilfields at Mumbai High and the nearby Bassein North Oil Fields, have contributed greatly to the industrial development of the state.

Mumbai houses the headquarters of almost all major banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and mutual funds. Mumbai has the largest stock exchange in the country, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Mumbai contributes 10% of India’s factory employment, 33% of income tax, 60% of the customs duties, 20% of central excise, and 40% of India’s foreign trade. Mumbai is India’s biggest harbor. It receives 50% of the international passengers. It also houses the largest film industry in the country, also referred as ‘Bollywood’.

Some of the important tourist centers are the Cavas-Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Kanheri and Karala; Hill stations, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran and Panchagani; Religious places: Pandharpur, Nashik, Shirdi, Aundhanagnath, Nanded and Ganapatipule.
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  Manipur

Manipur had been a Union Territory from 1956 and a full-fledged state from 1972. Manipuri was recognized as a national language in 1992. The State is bounded by Nagaland in the north, Mizoram in the south, Upper Myanmar in the east and Cachar district of Assam in the west.

Called a ‘Jewel of India’ by Jawaharlal Nehru, Manipur lies in the shadows of hills. The picturesque Manipur valley dotted with gleaming lakes is famous for a variety or orchids. Manipuri dance is world famous. So also her exquisite handicrafts.

Handloom is the biggest industry. There are 300 thousand spindles and an equal number of persons employed in the industry.  Manipur is the first state to introduce Oak Tasar Industry. In the hill area there are 75 Tasar Farms. Mulberry rearing in traditional ways is another activity.

The important tourist centers in the state are Imphal, the capital and center of all cultural and commercial activities adorned with two War Cemeteries maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Govindajee Temple, Women bazaar, etc. Besides, the Bishnu temple at Bishnupur built in 1467 A.D., the Loktak lake, the biggest fresh water lake in eastern India, Keibul Lamjao, the floating national park in the world, the Orchid Yard at Khongampat, etc. are also quite attractive.
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