Write short note on: Strategies to reduce regional imbalance.

Answer: Regional imbalance means unequal levels of development among regions; it can be reduced by planned measures.

• Balanced investment: more public investment in backward regions for roads, railways, power, irrigation and communication.
• Industrial incentives: tax concessions, subsidies, cheap land and loans to set up industries in backward areas; development of industrial estates/MIDC areas.
• Special area programmes: hill area, drought-prone area, desert development and tribal area development programmes.
• Human development: spreading education, health care and skill training in lagging regions.
• Agricultural development: irrigation, watershed development, better seeds and credit for farmers.
• Decentralised planning: role of Panchayati Raj institutions and growth centres to spread development.