Per capita income: Warangal languish at 27th spot

Warangal: Even though Warangal is touted as the destination next after Hyderabad in Telangana, its per capita income is alarmingly low compared to other districts. In fact, the Urban district is languishing at the 27th position in the State, and last among the six districts of erstwhile Warangal, underlining fact that the Urban district has highest population and as well as literacy rate.

Interestingly, the Urban district has 40.68 per cent of working population, whereas other five districts split out of erstwhile Warangal have above 50 per cent working population.

According to the Socio Economic Outlook – 2020 released by the Planning Department, Telangana Government, the Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of Warangal Urban district stood at 15th position with Rs 16,033 crore while Rangareddy (Rs 1.73 lakh crore) and Hyderabad (Rs 1.67 lakh crore) clinching the top two spots in the State. In terms of GDDP, Warangal Urban is followed by Mahabubabad (Rs 12,260 crore), Warangal Rural Rs 11,361 crore, Jangaon Rs 8,239 crore, Bhupalpally Rs 7,145 crore and Mulugu Rs 5,934 crore.

When it comes to the per capita income, Warangal Urban district is languishing at 27th spot with 1.24 lakh. Surprisingly, Mulugu with a per capita income of 1,69,211 is top among the erstwhile Warangal. Mulugu stood 9th in the State. Understandably, Rangareddy (5.78 lakh) and (Rs 3.57 lakh) took first two spots.

On the other hand, there is not much difference between Warangal Urban and Rural districts. With a per capita income of Rs 1,31,652, the Rural district which stood at 24th place in the State made no significant progress.

In general, the low per capita income indicates unemployment, shortage of skilled workforce, high population growth etc. Since the closure of Azam Jahi Mills, a cotton textile unit established by Nizam, which provided employment to more than 4,200 workers, Warangal region had not seen the advent of any major industry.

Although the State Government's resolve to establish Kakatiya Mega Textile Park (KMTP), touted as a one-stop shop for textile industry, has rekindled the hopes of filling the void left behind by the closure of Azam Jahi Mills, the proposal is yet to bear fruits.

While a better part of economy of the people in Urban district is dependent on business, government service, private jobs and unorganised sectors, the Rural district is dependent predominantly on agriculture. The number of small scale industries in the Urban district is little over 100.

Against this backdrop, the growth of Information Technology (IT) appears to be a ray of hope for the economic development of Warangal. It may be mentioned here that year 2020 has started on an optimistic note with three IT companies - Tech Mahindra, and the Cyient and Quadrant Resource – giving a much needed push to the industry growth in Warangal, in addition to the Kakatiya IT Solutions and Ventois Software Solutions located on the Madikonda Special Economic Zone.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Tirunahari Seshu, Lecturer in Economics, Kakatiya University, said: "Lack of industrial development is one of the main reasons for the low per capita income in Warangal Urban and Rural districts. This apart, agriculture has also become unprofitable due to lack of remunerative price to the farmers' produce. The government needs to focus on issues pertaining to agriculture besides encouraging agro-based industries and promoting small scale industries in the district."