Dropout ratio at HS & Primary levels increase
KOHIMA, MARCH 24: Nagaland’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the year 2021-2022 had tremendously picked up from a negative growth rate of -2.10% that was recorded in 2020-2021, stated the Nagaland Economic Survey 2021-22 that was Table tabled by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the ongoing budget session on March 24.
According to the report, the State economy as a whole has bounced back to the pre-COVID pandemic growth trajectory as far as sectoral growth is concerned but concerns remain in the secondary sector on account of its stagnant contribution to the total GSDP.
The report stated that one of the critical areas where the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt the most was in the Trade and Repairs and Hotel and Restaurant sector. With the lockdown measures prohibiting the functioning of business establishments, trading of goods and services, which is directly proportional to the operation of the economy, had suffered a direct hit during 2020-21.
Consequent to the drought-like situation in the State in 2021, the survey is also anticipating that the State’s food grain production will drop to 658.77 MT between 2021-22. The total food grain production in the State was 755.59 MT in 2021-22.
While Nagaland produced a total quantity of 9094 MT of fish, a total of 2800 MT of fish was imported to supplement the growing demand for fish consumption. During the year, the per capita consumption of fish was estimated at 5.98 Kg, is much below the nutritional requirement of per capita consumption of 11 kgs as per WHO recommendation. Fish production in the State is expected to slightly increase to 9150 MT, the survey stated.
Nagaland at present has a total installed capacity of 26.74 MW of power and for the rest of its requirement the State is fully dependent on its share of power allocation from the Central Public Undertaking such as NEEPCO, NHPC and NTPC.
In an alarming development, the dropout ratio in the State at the Higher Secondary level has increased from 9.6% in 2019-20 to 25.05% during 2019-2020. At the primary level, the dropout rate has increased from 4.33% in the year 2020-21.
(Page News Service)
