The central government had declared the district as one of the most backward in the country. The Viziangaram Lok Sabha constituency covers a major part of the district.
The Lok Sabha constituency, which came to being after the delimitation before the last election, is predominantly an agricultural district. About 75 per cent of the population is involved in agriculture and about 80 per depend on the cultivation and related works.
However, for years the constituency has been neglected and the elected representatives have not initiated the setting up of even a single agro-based industry. As there has also been no initiation from the district administration, no investor has come forward to set up industries even though the district has good rail and road connectivity. Visakahpatnam airport is hardly a hour’s drive from Vizianagaram.
There were quite a number of proposals for setting up of industries but none of them materialised. The existing factories like sugar, jute, rice and oil mills do not provide much employment. According to official statistics, only about 20,000 people employed in the existing factories.
Though the government is spending huge amount of money to improve the education sector in the constituency, it lies in shambles due to lack of infrastructure. Unemployment is another acute problem. As there are no jobs in the district, 75 per cent of educated youth migrate to other cities for employment and 25 per cent eke out a living under NREGS.
Assembly segments in the constituency are: Etcherla, Rajam, Bobbili, Cheepurupalli, Gajapatinagaram, Nellimarla and Vizianagaram.
