Accessibility of information is a major constraint faced by one and all in the region. It is either due to ignorance about the sources of information or the existing archival policies which come in the way of speedy retrieval of information. National Information Center of the Government of India, initiated electronic data accessibility services about a decade ago, but the information available with them is largely of recent years and one has to resort to time consuming traditional information retrieval systems to collect and compile information pertaining to earlier years. While microlevel planning needs detailed information, for comparing the level of development or infrastructure facilities available, etc., information at the district level is sufficient. The present volume with its emphasis on the use of maps to display various indicators and other parameters is an outcome of the work that Environmental Information System on Himalayan Ecology at GBPIHED undertook to compile all available information on the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). This volume is expected to be followed by those depicting the status of infrastructure facilities and land use status in IHR, in the future. The main objective of the study was to have a compilation of information at one place for easy and ready access for all districts of the IHR. 

In this study primary census data for the years 1951 to 1991 were used to look at population density, decadel growth rate, sex ratio, urbanisation, economic status and other perameters at the district level and the respective states. These data are available for analyses and use by all and could be obtained from the ENVIS center at this Institute. These data sets are available elsewhere also and this publication has attempted to provide these at one place. The sources from where the information was collected, compiled along with additional sources for further information are given at the end of the volume for further reading.