The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) is a regional planning initiative aimed at addressing the specific geographical, ecological, and social challenges of hill regions. It focuses on balanced regional development by harnessing local potential while maintaining ecological stability.
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The Hill Area Development Programme was initiated during the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-1979), not the First Five-Year Plan. The National Committee on the Development of Backward Areas (1981) subsequently recommended that all hill areas in the country having a height above 600 metres and not covered under tribal sub-plans be treated as backward hill areas.
Statement 2 is Correct:
The programme covers 15 districts comprising all the hilly districts of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand), Mikir Hill and North Cachar Hills of Assam, the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, and the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu. These areas were identified for special central assistance to accelerate their development.
Statement 3 is Correct:
The detailed plans for the development of hill areas were drawn keeping in view their topographical, ecological, social, and economic conditions. The core focus was to harness indigenous resources of the hill areas through the development of horticulture, plantation agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, forestry, and small-scale village industries.
Key Takeaway:
The Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) was launched in the Fifth Five-Year Plan to address regional disparities, focusing on the ecological balance and economic potential of specific hill districts in Uttarakhand, Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.