C H a P T E R -III S O C Io
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CHAPTER-III Socio-Econom ic and Political background of sam ple. It is generally argued that any act of communal violence does not occur in vacuum, nor does it happen in isolation. It necessarily takes place in certain context. And that context can be very-very wide and comprehensive. In short, communal riots can take place in socio-economic and political context. As we have seen in the previous chapter that at the state level communal riots are conditioned by the socio-economic and political factor. Same way we argue that in the samples also socio-economic and political factors tend to have bearing on communal disturbances. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to outline the socio-economic, political and demographic background of the samples of the study. We have taken demographic factor, only to establish its bearing on the communal riots that have taken place in the samples. We thus argue that demographic factors also provide immediate reasons and contexts for the communal problems in M aharashtra. Here it is being argued that, along with socio economic factor, the density or lack of density in population supply reason to understand the immergence of communal riots in the society like M aharashtra. In order to get deeper view of communal problems, it is necessary to consider the socio-economic factors that also have bearing on the communal riots. In this thesis it is argued that socio-economic factors either prevent or promote communal harmony in the society and in addition to this it is also the political structure and forces that play a crucial role in either preventing or promoting communal harmony in the society or creating worst condition for communal tensions as well. We would like to test this hypothesis with socio-economic and political development that has taken place in the sample. 51 Greater Mumbai;- Greater Bombay district, which is entirely an urban area, has shown a phenomenal growth of 543.39 per cent compared to the State urban growth rate of 388.34 per cent. During 1961 to 1971 the largest decadal growth viz. 43.80 per cent is seen in Greater Bombay, which is the highest rate in the State. This growth is due to the industrial development of the district. The increase in population of Greater Bombay can be attributed more to immigration than to the natural growth of population. Industrialization in Bombay gathered momentum in the post independence period. The percentage increased in the number of factory and factory employment in Greater Bombay showed continuously rising trend from 1950 onward. The growth rate of industries and factory employment was particularly higher in 1962 over that in 1939 and 1958. In 1962, there were 5,412 factories and workers working therein were 5,61,782. The increase in cotton industries, engineering industries, chemical industries, petroleum industries, machine-tool industries etc. recorded growth of employment in Bombay and as a result people from almost all states from India came for employment in Bombay. There is, therefore, influx of persons from all over India.^ Net m igration: Due to rapid growth in industries in Bombay there is influx of workers from all other states outside Mumbai. The migration in M umbai from 1951 onwards is as follows: In the year 1951 net migration was 0.95 million and that of the net m igration as percentage of decade increase is 79.7 per cent. In 1961 net migration is 0.60 million and the net migration as percentage of decade increase is 51.8 per cent. In 1971 net migration is 0.89 million and the net migration as percentage of decade increase is 48.7 per cent. In 1981 net migration is 1.07 million and the net migration as percentage of decade increase is 47.0 per cent. In 1991 net m igration is 0.28 m illion and the net migration as percentage of decade increase is 16.8 per cent. M igration contributed 17 per cent to the increase in population in 1981-91. Between 1971 and 1981 migration have contributed 47 per cent to the increase in population.^ In all the age-groups, there has been a steady rise in male as well as female migration. About 35% of the migrants were residents of M umbai for over 20 y e a r s .' Share of m igrants from m ajor states to M um bai 1981 1991 R u ra l Urban Total Rural Urban T o ta l Maharashtra 48.84 31.66 43.51 4 7 .0 2 3 0 .5 8 4 2 .1 0 U tta r 18.49 11.69 16.38 2 2 .2 5 1 3 .7 3 1 9 .7 P ra d e s h Gujarat 11.82 18.38 13.86 10.53 15.87 1 2 .1 3 K a rn a ta k a 5 .4 4 1 1 .7 8 7 .4 1 5 .1 9 10 .2 1 6 .6 9 T a m il N a d u 2.58 5.38 3.45 2.57 5.83 3 .5 4 Source:- Facts Book on Mumbai, vlaharashtra Economic Development Council, Year 2000. Shares as per cent shares in total migrant source: Census of India 1981 and 1991 In 1991 Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu accounted for over four fifth of m igrant population to the city.^ 53 Population by religion (1991 Census) C a t e g o r y Greater Bombay M aharashtra % share in M u m b a i ’s p o p u l a t i o n B u d d h ist 0.6 5.0 6.1 C h ris tia n 0 .4 0 .9 4 .0 H in d u s 6 .7 6 4 .0 68.0 J a in s 0 .4 1.0 4 .0 M u s lim s 1.7 7 .6 1 7 .2 S ik h s 0.1 0.2 1.0 Other religions 0.6 0.1 0 .6 1 and persuasions R e lig io n n o t 0.02 0.1 0.2 s ta te d TOTAL 9 .9 7 8 .9 100.0 Source: Statistical abstract of M aharashtra, various issues. Thus the above table shows that the M umbai is home to people belonging to several religions. ^ Density of Population : The density of population in Greater Bombay district in 1991 is 22,654 persons per Sq.Km. as compared to 257 persons per Sq.Km. that of M aharashtra State and 274 persons per Sq.Km. that of India. M umbai accounts for about 1 per cent of the total population in India. M umbai’s per capita income is almost four times that of India.^ It is reported that, in Bombay 54 per cent of its total population in condensed into 10 per cent of the total land area of Bom bay and this saturation of life leads to all kinds of tensions including communal tensions.^ The following map will show the sites that are affected by communal tension in M u m b a i. 54 MUMBAI Communally Sensitive Places Mumbai Central Byculla r,p.(*Jo»9 T ardeo D ongri Hyper Sensitive N agpada A gripada S e n s itiv e 55 Industrial Landscape : Greater Bombay, as a whole, has ^ 6 1 2 )2 2 ) of enterprises. Out of the total num ber of enterprises in M aharashtra about 14.7 per cent enterprises are located in Mumbai. (Includes Mumbai city and M umbai suburban district) The adult workers including female and children are 27,99,292 are working in enterprises in M umbai. O f the total number of persons working, 26.8 per cent persons are working in enterprises located in Mumbai. (Mumbai city and M umbai Suburban district) In Mumbai, in the year 1997 there were 7724 factories in which 4568 workers were working. As compared to number of factories in M aharashtra, the percentage is 24, and about the workers it is 30 per cent. In respect of large and medium scale industries in the year 1998 there were 1089 industries in Greater M umbai. 37% of the large and medium industries in the state of Maharashtra were located in M umbai in 1998, down from 44 % in 1983.^® Cotton textile and machinery and equipment other than transport equipment were the major employing segments in M um bai’s factory sector in 1995.^^ Among the m ajor industries basic chemical and chemical products generate the highest value added for employee.(2.37 lakh) Cotton textile ranks the lowest (among these industries) with value added per employee amounting to Rs.50,000/-.^^ Eleven per cent of the outstanding investment in the State are in Mumbai. A bulk of investment in Mumbai are directed towards the hotel, chemicals and petroleum and roadways sector.The city has 75% o f foreign financial collaboration as against 60% in the state. M umbai accounts for almost 30% of FDI in the state. The highest (40%) number of collaborations as well as the highest amount (50% ) is directed towards the services sector.^"* Am ong the metropolitan cities, M umbai ranks first as the deposit center. In M arch 1999, the city’s share in total deposit was 14%.^^ In terms of credit by 56 scheduled commercial banks Mumbai occupy the first position. In M arch 1999, M umbai share in total credit was 21% /^ In the age of globalization M umbai has received a great recession in industrial growth.