An analysis of regional disparity in Nagaland, India

Abstract

One of the crucial issues in the development of an economy is to see that all the regions are equally developed but it so happens that due to natural and man-made factors not all regions can be equally developed. Regions endowed with rich natural resources generally progress faster than those with little or no natural resources and at the same time man too has contributed a lot in creating inequalities or disparities among the regions. Nagaland, even after 52 years of statehood, continues to lack behind other states in all development front and worst of all the economic disparity among the districts has been vividly growing over the years. This paper examines the level of development in Nagaland and the regional disparity among the districts using seven variables. The variables were analysed using principal component analysis for regional identification according to their level of development and examine the disparities among them. The combined component score which shows the overall development index indicates that the district of Dimapur, Kohima, Zunheboto and Mokokchung are placed under developed districts while the less developed districts are Longleng, Mon, Kiphire and Tuensang. The districts of Wokha, Phek and Peren fall under the moderately developed districts.