Chhattisgarh

Area : 1,36,034sq km

Population: 2,07,95,956; growth rate (1991-2001): 18.06%

Density per sq km: 154

Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males): 990

Literacy rate: 65.18% (males: 77.86%; females: 52.0%)

Capital: Raipur

No. of Districts: 16

Legislature: Unicameral

Principal Language: Hindi

Important Cities, Towns and Religious/ Tourist Places: Ambikapur (caves built in ancient age), Bilaspur, Durg (beautiful forts), Jagdalpur (wild life sanctuary), Raigarh, Raipur, Rajnandgaon (Buddhist Monuments), Bhilai (steel plant) and Korba (BALCO Plant), Baikunthpur, Jashpur, Janjgir, Champa and Mahasamund (populous towns).

Judicature: High Court at Bilaspur.

Location: Chhattisgarh is bounded by southern Jharkhand and Orissa in the east, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the cast, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the West, Uttar Pradesh and western Jharkhand in the north and Andhra Pradesh in the south.

History: The new State of Chhattisgarh which came into being from November 1, 2000 as the State of the Union fulfils the hopes and aspirations of the tribal People for which the Constitution centrists the State to promote with special care the State to pr omote with special care their educational and economic interests (Article 46--Directive Principles of State Policy). It fulfils the long cherished demand of these people which was not acceded to by the State Reorganization Commission in 1956 and continued to be put forward by the people under various bodies like Chhattisgarh Bhartir Sangh, Chhattisgarh Asmita Sangthan from time to time.

Economy: About 46% of the total area in the State is covered with thick forests. The rest is largely rocky leaving little scope for agricultural land. The State is, however, rich in mineral resources. Copper, Coal; Iron, Lime Stone, Manganese are abundant. In Raipur district, a huge reserve of diamonds has been discovered which can yield a revenue of nearly rupees two thousand crores annually. Tendu leaves, Chironji, harar, Baheda, mahu flower and sal seed are some of the forest produce yielding an annual income of nearly Rs. 217 cores. The prominent industrial units are at Bhilai (Steel Plant) and Korba (BALCO plant).

Chhattisgarh