India 2018

States and Union Territories 607
role. The major irrigation projects in the state are Western Yamuna Canal System,
Bhakra Canal System and Gurgaon Canal System. Giving practical shape to
the lift irrigation system for the first time in India, Haryana has raised water
from lower levels to higher and drier slopes through the Jawaharlal Nehru
Canal, Project. The state is among the beneficiaries of the multipurpose Sutlej-
Beas project, sharing benefits with Punjab and Rajasthan.
Power
The first state in the country to have achieved hundred per cent rural
electrification way back in 1970, Haryana is well on way to becoming power
surplus from a power deficit state.
Education
Haryana is emerging as an education hub and shaping into a modern-day
Takshila and Nalanda. Making elementary education available at reachable
distance to all children and opening a large number of institutes of higher
learning, offering global standard education, the state is moving fast on the
road to becoming a modern hub of education. According to 2011 census, the
literacy rate in Haryana is 76.64 per cent against the all-India literacy rate of
74.04 per cent. Haryana’s female literacy rate is 66.77 per cent and male literacy
rate is 85.38 per cent. The rural population is served by primary schools within
a radius of 1.01 km, middle schools within a radius of 1.17 km, high schools
within a radius of 1.45 km, and senior secondary schools within a radius of
2.10 km.
Industry
The investment and industry-friendly policies pursued by the state government
have made Haryana the cynosure of all investing eyes and put the state on
threshold of industrial revolution. Haryana today is the largest producer of
passenger cars, tractors, motorcycles, bicycles, refrigerators, scientific
instruments, etc. Besides, it is the largest exporter of basmati rice. Panipat
handlooms and carpets are known all over the world besides its tasty panchranga
pickle.
Health
Healthcare has been made both affordable and reachable by setting up a statewide
network of district and sub-divisional hospitals. These are being beefed
up with staff and equipment and deficiencies in referral services are being
removed. The state-wide network of health centres includes 56 hospitals, 109
community health centres, 467 primary health centres, 2,630 sub-centres, 15
district TB centres, 639 ayurvedic, homeopathy and unani centres, 90 urban
RCH centres are functioning.
Information Technology
Out of the 85 proposals for setting up IT/cyber parks in the state, recommended
by the committee constituted for the purpose, 35 companies have been granted
licences by the town and country planning department.