COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN - Puri District

Comprehensive Development Plan – PKDA 2031strengthening agricultural base in the rural part of the region. Adequate infrastructure andhousing provisions should also be taken care off in the urban centres which can preventspreading of slums and degradation of urban environment.From the workers distribution analysis it can be clearly stated that working population shareespecially main workers share is highly concentrated in the Puri town and surrounding areawhere as the population in the rest of the region lacks adequate opportunities and engaged inmarginal sector. This should be tackled by promoting specialized secondary and tertiary basedactivities suitable to local fabric in the rural belt of PKDA.Literacy status in the region has increased considerably in the last decade. The rate in Puri townhas increased from 66% to 73% between 1991-2001 where as the in the same time line theregional literacy rate has increased from 57% to 69%. This will lead to increasing demand forhigher educational institutions and schooling provisions which should be well incorporated in theprovisions for social infrastructure in the CDP.The overall sex ratio in the PKDA region has increase from 882 to 919 persons/000 males inthe last decade. The same increasing trend has been seen in all the blocks constituting the region.This can be taken as a positive phenomenon and provisions and activities as well as awarenessshould be promoted to provide equal opportunities for women in the region.The concentration of backward castes in the Puri town and surrounding area has increased in thelast decade. People have migrated from interior areas for working opportunities are living ininformal settlements in the town. Special attention should be given to the minorities throughformal schooling, job opportunities for equitable growth.Primary sector activities in the form of agriculture, fishing and forest based activities are stillemploying a considerable share of population in the region. The sector should be furtherstrengthened by promoting household based activities, manufacturing and use of moderntechnologies in the activities.Handicrafts and handloom products of the region is of high class and very attractive to theconsumers. Use of technology for greater outputs and Marketing of the products is the need ofthe hour to promote and strengthen the sector.Tourism is the backbone of local economy in the towns and overall region. Various attractions inand around the region attracts tourists in plenty. There are still a lot of opportunities to beexplored through specific area planning, beach development, sanctuary development etc in thesector to improve the tertiary sector in the region.Accommodation facilities for tourists in the region especially in the town are far below than thedemand. Therefore adequate accommodation facilities should be developed through privatepartnerships to meet the demand.Increasing trend of floating population during peak seasons leading to more infrastructuredemand in the region especially in Puri town. Adequate proposals should be given for specialtourism infrastructure development in the area.CEPT, Ahmedabad 125