REPORT ON BASIC STATISTICS FOR LOCAL LEVEL DEVELOPMENT (BSLLD) PILOT STUDY IN RURAL AREAS DISTRICT - AKOLA (MAHARASHTRA) DIRECTORATE OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA, MUMBAI. FOREWORD The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India had launched pilot study on Basic Statistics for Local Level Development (BSLLD). The objective of this scheme is to prepare a database containing the information on all sectors like demography, land utilization, education, health, road connectivity and basic amenities with regard to each revenue village. Such information has become increasingly essential for preparation of village plan at micro level and taluka centric planning for development. In the State of Maharashtra, Akola district was selected on second phase pilot basis for this study. The preparation of district plan has been made mandatory in the wake of 73rd constitutional amendment. Accordingly, the plans prepared by Panchayat Raj Institutions and Municipalities in the District are consolidated to form District plans. Hence, it is prerequisite to have the comprehensive data on all key parameters to prepare the revenue village plan with holistic approach. The data collection work of Basic Statistics for Local Level Development was conducted by District Statistical Office, Akola. The requisite data was collected from talathi, gramsevak, sarpanch, anganwadi worker, knowledgeable people, etc. The efforts made by District Statistical Officer & his staff in conducting the survey and feeding the data in to software are appreciable. I hope this survey would be a sound initiative towards achieving the targeted goal of effective need based decentralised planning. ( A. D. Deo ) Director, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Mumbai. CONTENTS Sr. No. Contents Page No. 1 Introduction 1 2 District Profile : Akola 2 3 Akola at a glance 6 4 Taluka Profile 9 5 Pilot study on local level development 16 6 Training programme on BSLLD 17 7 Talukawise visits for inspection 18 Periodic data 8 Metalled roads & all weather roads 19 9 BPL households 19 10 Disabled population (sex wise) 20 11 Types of disability amongst disabled 22 12 Storage & market outlets 23 13 Employment 23 Dynamic data 14 Live births 25 15 Still births 26 16 Deaths of children aged below one year 27 17 MTP cases 28 18 Indoor patients 28 19 In-migration 30 20 Out-migration 31 21 Cases of violence against women 32 22 Paid workers in enterprises 32 23 Source of data collection 33 24 Limitations of the study 35 BASIC STATISTICS FOR LOCAL LEVEL DEVELOPMENT (BSLLD) INTRODUCTION The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments mandated the empowerment of Panchayat Raj Institutions and local bodies according constitutional status to these institutions and enabling them to take up their development process themselves. A number of schemes are being implemented by various departments for the socio- economic development of rural areas. However, the requisite data to assess the development and thrust areas at the local level is not available adequately & timely. The formulation of plans/ schemes without assessing the relevant qualitative data has not been effective in equitable allocation of resources in the past. As a result, local needs and priorities could not be appropriately reflected in the state plans and therefore, these plans could not form effective tool in the equitable spread of socio economic development in the rural areas. The National Statistical System must assist the various development agencies in this challenging task. The recent advances in information technology in compilation, storage and analysis of statistical data should be fully exploited for development at local levels. In view of the above, the National Statistical Commission recommended preparing a database on local level by regular flow of data from the grass root level to ensure the development at micro level. 1 1. DISTRICT PROFILE : AKOLA 1.1 HISTORY What constitutes Akola district at present was originally, a part of the Nizams dominion assigned in 1853 to the East India Company in liquidation of the large debt due on account of arrears of pay on the Hyderabad contingent and as a security for future payment of that force. At that time Berar was divided into two districts, South and North. In 1857 Berar was reconstituted into two districts, West Berar with headquarters at Akola and East Berar with headquarters at Amravati. In 1903, the treaties of assignment were superseded by an agreement under which the Nizam leased Berar to the Government of India for an annual rent of Rs. 25 lakhs in perpetuity. The administration of Berar was transferred from Hyderabad to the Chief Commissioner of Central Provinces. In 1864, the Washim district was broken and two tahsils of Washim and Manglurpir were included in the newly constituted Akola district. There were no major changes in the boundaries of the district between 1911 and 1955. In 1956, with the reorganisation of the States, the district was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to the Bombay State and in 1960 it became a part of the State of Maharashtra. On 1st July, 1998 Akola district was divided to form two new districts, Akola and Washim. Akola district now consists of Akola, Balapur, Patur, Barshitakli, Murtizapur, Akot and Telhara talukas. The district headquarter is Akola. Akola city is located in north-central Maharashtra state, western India, on the banks of Morna river. An important road and rail junction in the Purna river valley, it is a commercial centre, mainly cotton trading. There are also textile and vegetable-oil industries. Akola is an important educational center with several colleges affiliated to the University of Amravati. 1.2 GEOGRAPHY The district of Akola lies in the western parts of the Amravati Division of Maharashtra State and is surrounded by Amravati district in the north and north-east, Yavatmal in the south - east, Washim in the south and Buldhana in the west. The district boundary latitude are 20.17 - 21.16 N and longitude are 76.7-77.4 E. The main river of district is “Purna”. Pedhi, Katepurna, Morna, Nirguna and Man are the tributaries of the Purna river. 2 1.3 Area, Population & Administrative Divisions Area of the district is 5,672.81sq.km. According to 2011 census, the population of the district is 18,13,906 of which 60.3% population is residing in rural area. The decadal population growth rate is 11.27% (2001-2011). The number of villages inhabited are 864 of which 265 villages have population less than 500 and only 5 villages have population above 10000. There are 12 towns in the district, of which only one town has population more than one lakh (Akola 4,25,817). Population density (persons per sq. km.) of the district is 320. Sex ratio (females per 1000 males) is 946. Scheduled Cast population is 20.07% and that of Scheduled Tribes is 5.53%. Literacy rate is 88.05 (male literacy rate is 92.34 & female literacy rate is 83.54). The district comprises of four Revenue subdivisions (Akola, Murtijapur, Akot, Balapur) and seven tahsils, alongwith one Municipal Corporation (Akola). There are five Municipal Councils, seven Panchayat Samitis and 542 Gram Panchayats. There are 19 Police Stations and 14 Police out posts. 1.4 Climate A hot summer and general dryness throughout the year characterise the climate of the district except during the southwest monsoon season. The year may be divided into four seasons. The period from about the middle of November to the end of February constitutes the winter season. The summer season extends from March to June. This is followed by the southwest monsoon season, which extends upto the end of September-October and November constitute the post monsoon season. Average rainfall is 750 to 1,000 mm. The climate is tropical. 1.4.1 Temperature There is a metrological observatory in the district at Akola and the data from this observatory may be taken as representative of the metrological conditions obtained in the district in general. Temperature rises rapidly after February till May, which is the hottest month of the year. Minimum temperature is 8oC and maximum temperature is 48oC. 1.5 Agriculture and Economy The economy is mostly agriculture based. District Net Income (DSDP) for 2012- 13 (with base year 2004-05) at Constant prices is Rs. 8,573 crore and per capita net district income is Rs. 71,477. 3 Total geographical area is 56.7 lakh ha of which forest area is 36,414 (6.4%). Cultivable area is 4.66 lakh ha and irrigated area is 25,428 ha (4.5%). Major crops in the district are soyabean, cotton, jowar, toor, pulses etc. There are two major irrigation projects, three medium irrigation projects and 47 minor irrigation projects. There is a seed processing plant in the district for supply of nucleus seed run by the Maharashtra State Seed Corporation. A Government dairy unit is also functioning at Akola, which collects milk from the producers and supplies the same to Mumbai and other places. Total livestock is 5.5 lakh, whereas total poultry is 1.07 lakh (Livestock census, 2007). 1.6 Land Use classification As per population Census 2011 the total land in the district is 5,673 sq. km. The land use classification according to different uses is given below (2007-08 provisional). Sr. No. Item Area in ha. 1 Area under forest 36,414 2 Land not available for cultivation 24,110 3 Other uncultivated land excluding fallow 5,974 4 Fallow land 13,188 5 Net Area sown 4,47,326 6 Area sown more than ones 38,616 7 Total cropped area 4,85,948 1.7 Health, Education & Social Aspects There are 18 hospitals, 38 dispensaries, 30 primary health centers and 178 primary health sub-centers.